Title: Was I Ever Loved By You?

Author: Audrey (booksmartbrilliance@msn.com)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Summary: Ginny Weasley has it all. Successful career woman, love interest of Harry Potter, the envy of her generation. Life can't get any better. Until something happens that brings everything crashing down around her and she's forced to look at life from a different angle.

A/N: I have been a very evil fan fiction writer and haven't updated for months. RL has been horrible about letting me get back to where this story left off. Please forgive me. To make up for it, I am making this chapter extra long. Also, I know I've already used a Dixie Chics song, but this one fit so perfectly I had to use it. Chalk it up to my Big Bad Southerness. Thank you, thank you, thank you to those people who asked me to continue this. Also, please note the new address booksmartbrilliance@msn.com. Unfortunately the yahoo address is no more. If you wrote me at that address please accept my apologies I never got your email. Write me at the new one and I will respond promptly! I love all my reviewers.

Special Thanks to Dani, my brain twin, Becca my inspiration, my everything, Potty for Potter for always being so supportive, and Priya for completely blowing my mind and making my entire year...hell, for making my entire life so far. Without you guys nothing would have been written, nevertheless, posted.

Chapter Nine -- Oh Baby

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I've been afraid of changing 'cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older, too
Well I'm getting older too

Landslide by Dixie Chics

* * * * *

It's with a nervous stomach that I poke my head in the doorway of the crowded living room, Draco right behind me. I glance over the sea of redheads searching for Harry's dark hair and I don't spot it.

"I don't see him," I whisper to Malfoy. He nods and steps back into the hall.

"Ginny, there you are," Mum says sounding a bit miffed. "You and Mr. Malfoy have a seat and we'll begin opening presents."

"Mum..." I start to protest, but she gives me one of her patented no-nonsense looks and I obey moving to a seat near Hermione and Gabrielle. Draco remains in the hall a moment longer and then he steps into the doorway.

"Is that my sweater?" Ron asks raising his eyebrows in the direction of Malfoy.

"There was an accident," I say, glaring in the direction of the snickers coming from Fred and George.

"Yes, Virginia got rid of the stain permanently," Draco said, not looking a bit phased. "Unfortunately my clothes didn't survive."

"Where's Harry?" Mum asks looking around frantically. "Didn't he come after you?"

"Yes..." I say, my cheeks turning scarlet.

"Here I am," Harry says frowning in the doorway. He avoids my eyes as he takes a seat across the room near Dad and the tree.

"Good," Mum says looking relieved. "Now we can open presents."

Draco quietly takes his seat beside me. I'm watching Harry closely as he takes the presents Dad is handing him. He finally looks up at me briefly and our eyes meet. I swallow feeling incredibly guilty. He's angry and hurt, his eyes say it all. I look away first unable to hold his gaze. I look to my right where Draco is sitting on the floor, looking ridiculous in Ron's sweater. He doesn't have any presents, but he seems entirely content watching everyone else open theirs. Mum, who is sitting on the other side of the door, leans over holding out a present to him. I must look as surprised as Draco as he takes it from her.

"It isn't much," I hear her whisper. "but Happy Christmas."

Draco looks a bit flustered, "Happy Christmas."

He glances at me and I shrug. Mum winks at me before turning to admire the magical baby mobile Penelope's just unwrapped. The woman never ceases to amaze me.

"Ginny?"

I turn towards Hermione on my left. "Yes?"

"Happy Christmas," she says handing me a neatly wrapped present.

"Oh," I say, mentally kicking myself for not getting her anything in return. I take it from her knowing from Hermione's past gifts and it's shape that it's a book. "Thank you."

"You know what?" I say smiling nervously at her. "I think I forgot yours at home..."

She frowns, "Ginny, you are home."

"Oh, right!" I say. I look down at my presents frantically and my eyes land on the one from Lars. There's no note on it and I hand in a moment of brilliance I hand it to Hermione. "Oh, here it is."

"Oh," she says looking pleased. "It's almost too pretty to open."

"Isn't it?" I say feeling the Christmas spirit overtake me as I pray silently that there is nothing inappropriate in the gift. I look to my right to check on Draco, only to find he's no longer there. I look up and see him walking out the living room door. Harry's missing from his place also and I feel my stomach knot up again.

"Oh, Ginny!" Hermione breathes, "It's beautiful!"

I look over at the silver locket she's holding up. "It looks terribly expensive," she says opening it and then frowning. "Who is this?"

She holds it out to me and I see a picture of Lars smiling up at me. "Oh, well..."

"He's hunky," Gabrielle says peering over our shoulders and giving me a wink. "Does he come with the gift?"

Hermione smiles, "He is kind of good looking, isn't he?"

"You can have him," I mutter under my breath, but obviously not low enough because Hermione looks at me.

"What?"

I laugh nervously. "I said you can have him. He's sort of a friend of mine..." My mind is racing to find something that will get me out of this awkward situation. Draco is right. How do I get into these situations? "Well, the truth is he has this huge crush on you and he asked me to set you up."

I blink. What did I just say?

Hermione face mirrors the surprise I feel. "What?" she asks for the second time in two minutes.

"Oh, a secret admirer!" Gabrielle says grinning. "How romantic!"

"Yeah," I hear myself say. "He saw your picture in one of those medical periodicals and he's been dying to meet you."

"Which periodical?" Hermione asks her cheeks slightly pink. "Modern Magic Medicine or The Monthly Medical Journal?"

"The second," I say nodding.

"Oh for Merlin's sake," Hermione says , "I looked horrible in that picture!"

"What can I say? It must have been love at first sight."

"I was wearing scrubs!" Hermione says frowning in concentration, "And a mask!"

"He said you have very intense eyes," I say quickly.

"I think it's sweet," said Gabrielle. "Are you going to meet him, Hermione?"

"I don't know," Hermione says frowning. "I mean, he's a complete stranger. I don't know anything about him. It would be awkward."

"Well...it was worth a try. Don't worry about it. I'll just tell him you weren't interested." I say quickly, relieved things haven't gotten more out of control.

"I know," Gabrielle says a mischievous glint in her eye. "Make it a group date. That way there's no awkwardness."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asks looking up at her.

"You and Lars, Ginny and Malfoy."

"No!" I say quickly. "Me and Malfoy aren't....we just work together."

"Okay," Gabrielle says, not a bit deterred. Then she smiles broadly at both of us. "I got it. You and Lars. Ron and I."

"What?" Hermione says looking appalled.

Gabrielle smiles, "I don't think he'll mind. He already asked me if I'd want to go to dinner sometime. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if one of his best friends came along with a date. To tell you the truth, having someone else there might make me feel more comfortable too. First dates are always nerve wracking, aren't they?"

"He asked you..." Hermione says searching the room for Ron and spotting him in the corner talking to Fred. She looks back up at Gabrielle her face resolved. "Fine. It's a date."

"Great! I'll go tell Ron," Gabrielle says walking way.

"You actually want to go out with Lars?" I ask, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

Hermione smiles at me. "I suppose so. I mean, I don't really get to date much because of my hours at the hospital. And if he's that taken with me...then I suppose it won't hurt to meet him."

"Oh, fine," I say sighing. "Just don't tell Fred and George, alright?"

"Why not?" Hermione asks, always too curious for her own good.

"It's a long story," I say. "Let's just say he owes them some money and leave it at that."

* * * * *

Draco resurfaces a few minutes later wearing the famous Malfoy smirk. I've since made my way back to the Egg Nog, where I'm talking to Angelina and Alicia. I told them about sticking my foot in my mouth once again and, like the true sisters they are, they've promised to help if they can. When I spot him I set down my Egg Nog and move over to the stance he's taken near the doorway.

"Did you talk to Harry?" I ask when I finally reach him.

He looks down at me his smirk growing into a full blown smile. "I did."

"And?" I ask, wanting to grab him by the sweater and shake him. "Did you explain everything?"

"Well I tried," He said. "Then he punched me and I stopped trying."

"What?" I ask suddenly wondering where exactly Harry is. The fights between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, though few at Hogwarts, were legendary. I've now realized how unwise it may have been to send an old school rival to talk sense into another. "You didn't ...What happened?"

He shrugs, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I told him what he was willing to believe." I must look lost because he sighs. "Sometimes...people are going to believe what they want no matter what you say. When that's the case, you might as well put an entertaining spin on it."

"Spare me the lecture," I say. "What did you tell him?"

Behind me I'm dimly aware of my Dad making a toast. The room is silent for a few seconds as every one goes to take the traditional sip.

"I told him we were engaged."

Draco doesn't say it particularly loudly, but it carries in the silent room and there is the sound of choking and sputtering while various Weasleys spit out their drinks.

"WHAT?" The question comes in a myriad of tones, varying from outrage to surprise. Not the least of which is my own spin on the word, a cross between outrage and panic.

I turn and face the shocked looks of my family and friends. "No! He's just kidding. We aren't really! Really!" I say before grabbing Malfoy and pulling him down the hall. I shove him into the nearest empty room.

"You told him what?" I hiss in the dim light coming in from the bottom of the door.

"I'm sorry, Weasley," he says, not looking sorry at all. "I couldn't help it! He kept going on and on about how low I was and...I got bored."

"You prat!" I say hitting him on the chest. "How could you do that to me?"

"He wasn't listening to the truth, anyway," He says waving a hand dismissively. "And I had to protect your honor, right? So if he's only going to believe that you were doing something you weren't doing... Well, the least I can do is marry you and make an honest woman out of you."

"Malfoy!"

He laughed, "You should have seen his face."

"You were supposed to help! Not make things worse!" I say glaring at him.

"You know," he says, grinning down at me. "You're kind of cute when you're angry."

"Yeah, I've been told that," I say suddenly wondering why this room is so small, and he's so close, and is it hot in here? It is, it's very warm...

I hold my breath as he bends down and his lips brush mine.

The door swings open revealing a very angry Harry.

"Bloody hell!" He says. "Just hand me my coat and you can get on with it you perverts."

I realize that we're not in a room at all, but rather the coat closet.

"Harry!" I squeak jumping and somehow landing hard on Malfoy's foot.

"Oww," Malfoy says wincing.

"Forget it," Harry snaps. "Keep the coat."

"Harry! No!" I say pulling him in and shutting the door. Somehow I manage to situate myself against the door.

"Ginny, what are you doing?"

"Weasley, I don't think this closet was made for three," Draco says. "And I think you broke my toe."

"No one is leaving until we get this straight. Malfoy, tell him"

"Tell me what? Your Honeymoon plans?" Harry says fixing me with a glare, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've heard Paris is great this time of year."

"Paris is a nightmare this time of year," Malfoy says coolly.

"Malfoy!" I say, surprising myself with the sudden similarity of my voice to my mothers when she's about had enough nonsense.

"We're not engaged."

"You're not?" Harry asks, looking from me to Draco.

"No!" I say quickly. "And I was just helping him with his pants...I wasn't...I mean...I'd never...you know!"

"We're just business--" Draco begins.

"Friends!" I finish for him.

Draco gives me a surprised look, but I barely notice it before I turn to Harry. "What kind of woman do you think I am anyway? You know I don't do that."

Harry's eyes grow wide as he looks at me. "Well, I didn't think you did but...it's Malfoy. He's evil! He'd corrupt anyone."

"Who says evil doesn't pay?" Draco says smirking and then wincing as I step on his toe.

"Malfoy, shut it," I snap getting angry. "And you..." I say turning to Harry. What business is it of yours anyway? If you can see Monique the Muppet, I can see whomever I like!"

"Monet?" Harry asks raising an eyebrow. "And I thought you said you were just friends."

"We are! But if we weren't, then I should be able to do all the things couples do. And I shouldn't care what you think. If anyone should feel guilty it should be you! You're the one that left me!"

The two men stare at me for a moment. Then Draco clears his throat. "I could use a bit of fresh air. I'm allergic to....coats."

I move aside so he can pass through the door. It makes a faint click as it shuts behind him.

"I hate that you hate me," Harry says, his shoulders slumping.

"I don't hate you," I say feeling tired. "I..."

I take a deep breath. "Harry you did the right thing. I've always loved you because you did the right thing no matter what. I can't really start hating you for it now, can I?"

"Maybe I didn't do the right thing. Maybe I panicked. Maybe I..." he sighs, fixing me with the green eyes that used to make me melt. "I miss you, Ginny,"

I feel dizzy in the confined space of the closet. I swallow and look away from those eyes for a moment trying to collect my thoughts. "No," I say surprised that my voice isn't shaking. "It was the right thing."

"Ginny..."

"I've been in love with you my whole life, Harry. You were all I saw. You were all I ever wanted. I would have spent the rest of my life being Mrs. Virginia Potter...and I probably would have thought I was happy...for a little while. When I was a girl at Hogwarts I used to pretend that someday you'd notice me, that you'd love me. Well, I'm not a girl anymore, and I'm finished with pretending. You can't make yourself love someone, Harry. Maybe you would have grown to love me, but never the way I loved you. You were right that night at La Fontaine. It wouldn't be enough. It's time for me to grow up."

Harry looks at me his face sad for a moment before being replaced with grim determination. "Where do we go from here, then? We can't keep walking on eggshells around one another."

"Maybe we should start over," I say softly.

"Do you think we could be friends again?" He asks looking hopeful and not a little wistful.

I nod. "I'd like that."

The door swings open, this time revealing a harried looking Mum. Surprise manages to register on her face before she impatiently tells us to get out of the closet. I'm briefly reminded of the time she caught me and Seamus Finnegan snogging in the same closet sixth year.

"Penelope's water just broke!" she says grabbing coats and throwing them over at Fred who's got his hands held out to catch them. He raises his eyebrows questioningly, but thankfully says nothing as Harry and I move out of the closet and into the hallway. "The Knight Bus is coming to take her to the hospital. Percy and I will ride with her and everyone else is Apparating. Ginny, could you stay here in case anyone calls for news? And could you start tidying up? I don't know how long I'll be gone....I was in labor with Bill for 12 hours..."

"Sure," I say quickly, "Don't worry about anything, just get Penelope to the hospital."

I know that if I don't say something, we'll be listening to the "Birth of Bill" yet again. I manage to catch the grateful looks of Harry and Fred who knew where Mum was headed. Stay long enough in this house and you can see it coming a mile away.

* * * * *

"So the meeting has been moved to tomorrow evening?" I ask shivering in the cold of the open doorway. In all the coat mayhem, I think someone took mine by mistake.

Draco raises an eyebrow at me. "Meeting?"

I smile at him, "The one you came here to tell me about."

"Oh, that meeting," he says, his eyes lighting up. "Eightish? At the office?"

"Sounds good," I say nodding. I look down to see a book in his hands. "What is that?"

"My gift." He holds it up so that I can see the title, When in Rome, Cook Romanian. I snort in a very undignified manner. A book, and a boring one at that, definitely a present from Hermione. Maybe she's not as organized as I thought she was, I recall her suggesting it in the store. I have to admit I'm surprised at Mum, though. Looks like I'm not the only one that did the present swap.

"Just what every man needs," I say picking a piece of lint off of Ron's sweater. "That and a stylish sweater."

"Well, I can honestly say I don't have anything like it," he says grinning. "Nor, have I ever had a Christmas quite like this one."

I feel my cheeks warm, "This is nothing. You should see us at New Years. Fleur and Bill have their annual big fight, Fred and George come very close to blowing themselves up, and then..."

"About the closet..." he says, cutting off my nervous ramblings.

"Yes?" I ask looking up at him.

"Did you mean what you said about us being friends?"

"Well, business associates don't usually kiss in coat closets, do they?"

"You'd be surprised at what those New Yorkers do," he says glancing up. "But we British, we're sticklers for tradition, aren't we?"

"Indeed."

"In that case, tradition indicates that I kiss you now."

"What?" I say blinking and feeling my heart speed up.

He points up and I look to see mistletoe hanging in the doorway above us.

"Oh," I breathe as he bends down and kisses me. It's not a long kiss, but his lips linger a second longer than they have to causing me to feel blissfully lightheaded. I'm sure he can hear my heart beating as he pulls away.

"Happy Christmas, Virginia," he says smiling down at me

"Happy Christmas, Draco," I say feeling a tingle where his lips had been just a moment before. He smiles at me as he steps outside the door into the cold and Apparates home.

* * * * *

Back in the living room, I collapse on the couch beside Ron. The house is a mess and I'm in no hurry to tidy it up. Everyone has either Apparated to the hospital or gone home.

"He gone?" Ron asks, flipping through a book of poetry. I nod, shooting him a quizzical look "I suppose he took my sweater, then?"

"Ron, you didn't even know you still had that sweater!"

"Still, it was mine, and now bloody Malfoy has it."

"Mature," I say rolling my eyes. "Will you put down that book of poetry? You're making me nervous."

He sighs and puts it on the end table. "So what's going on between you and Malfoy?"

"Nothing," I say trying to fight the tell-all smile that's wanting to surface. "We're just friends."

Ron fixes me with his trademark doubtful look, "Right."

"What's going on with you and Gabrielle?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

He grins at me. "I don't kiss and tell."

"You just did."

He shrugs, "It's mistletoe. It's tradition."

"Yes it is," I say biting my lip in an effort to keep that damned smile back.

"What's all this about a double date, anyway?" He says out of nowhere. "Who is this Lars?"

I groan. I had forgotten about that.

"You haven't met him? He works for George and Fred."

"And you're setting him up with Hermione?" Ron asks, looking surprised. "What do they have in common?"

"He's really....nice," I say. "Besides, she thought he was quite attractive."

"What does he look like?"

"He's tall, dark and handsome," I say. "He kind of reminds me of Harry."

"That's not her type," Ron says..

"What is her type?"

He shrugs. "Hermione needs someone who..." he picks up the book of poetry and glances a the cover. "Who can discuss Lord Byron with a straight face or something..."

"Well, that leaves you out," I tease.

"I mean come on," Ron says opening the book. "She walks in beauty, like the night, Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright, Meet in her aspect and her eyes....who talks like that?"
"Hopeless romantics?"

"You know they call them 'hopeless' for a reason."

I laugh at him as I take the book away and place it in the seat between us.

"I guess I'd better start cleaning up," I look around the room sighing at the mess. I look at him hopefully. "No chance you'd be a decent brother and help, is there?"

He snorts. "Are you kidding? I don't live here."

"Lucky you," I say getting up. "I wish I didn't."

"Ginny, why are you living here?" Ron asks. "You make decent money, you could afford to live on your own."

"I've never been on my own," I say simply.

"Gabrielle told me her roommate is moving out on New Years," Ron said. "Maybe you can move in with her. Mum must be driving you crazy here."

"How sweet of you to be thinking of my interests. I'm sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that you'd have an excuse to come over all the time and get to know Gabrielle."

He grins at me. "Of course not."

I shake my head and smile as I begin picking up Egg Nog glasses. I never thought I'd be saying this, but Ron's right. There is no reason for me to be living at home. If anything, tonight has shown me that it's time to move on.

After twenty-eight years of stalling, I think I'm finally ready to grow up.

* * * * *

A/N: This is going to be looooong. I guess it's what I get for waiting so long to update, huh?

Noto Mamiko, sabacat, grassie, Crystal, Ginny001, Lucia Dreams, JT Jones, Amy, WinterMoonglade, Alice, snakes-on-the-ice, Melanie Pointe, paranoid, Orian_purplestar, Rivenloe, KeeperOfTheMoon, Jesse_Doucette, angelic_pen, AngelicVampire, Elven Maiden, calculatingcat726......Thanks you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I'm glad you liked the story and I hope you continue to be entertained!

Krismione Hey! Sorry I haven't been around. Crazy things going on. Hope all is well with you and your stories. Catch you online soon!

Missi COSMOZ! Hope you're still sticking it out with this story. I'm very flattered to be added as one of your favorites! I love toast too! Great minds think alike.

Potty For Potter I think you'll be surprised at this chapter. I'm happy my writing is making you reconsider D/G. And you're so right H/G is all wrong!

August Thanks for being such a dutiful reviewer!

Kittylioness I thought it was going to be Molly too...until Harry just sort of popped in instead. Oh well, much better this way. :)

Nicole My very first reviewer! I hope that you can forgive me for taking so long and that you'll stick with this story until the end. Sorry for keeping you waiting so long!

jubilybabe It's not the usual plot is it? What other fanfic writer would spend three chapters on Christmas at the Burrow? ;) Harry's not Hermione's type. And you're right. It is about time Ron got some attention. Who can blame him for basking in it? :D

Fizzleup Thank you for the huge compliment! I think Harry does regret it, but for the wrong reasons. Ginny is right. He did the right thing.

ArwenUndomiel LOL. Draco loves torturing Harry. He did try to be good though, didn't he?

carlyd You know what's insane? I was never a D/G shipper either. Until I started writing this story. I guess I just wanted to see if I could make it work. Crazy, huh? Now I believe in the D/G!

phdinevil Thanks for being such a fan! I'm very flattered. Thanks for not flooding my review box too. I would have run out of space very quickly. :)

BrilliantGinnyDracoshipper I think you seriously must have broken a record on the longest reviews ever. Not that I'm complaining! I'm flattered and enjoyed reading the parts that you liked. Those are some of my favorite lines myself and I'm glad you're picking up on them. :D Your review had me laughing out loud. Thanks!

Becca Thanks again for everything. For introducing me to D/G, for giving me constant feedback on all of my writing, for inspiring me with Clueless, for making me pretty icons and basically for staying up into the wee hours of the morning. Muah! You ROX!

Rebecca Gryffindor I do have a wonderful beta. Becca, the Goddess, I call her. I also just gained one in my friend Priya. I know you can't really tell from the posts here on ff.net. The truth is, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I post the rough draft here and usually post the cleaned up version on Astronomy Tower at www.fictionalley.org Now you know my deep, dark secret. ;)

Priya You've got me walking around with a huge grin on my face. Fingers crossed, I think this is going to be great!