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 apologize, as always, for taking so long.  I can't wait to hear what you guys think about this chapter.  I've been planning it for ages.

Special Thanks to Becky For sitting by me and helping me co-write the dinner scene.  You made Monet brilliant!  Thank you!  Dani, thank you for always being there to encourage me!  Becca,  Finally, you get your appearance.  Thanks for letting me borrow you and Anya a bit.  ;) Potty for Potter, Thanks for always being my Brit-picker.  Hannah, Thanks for being my oldest beta and for letting me know the bits you like.  You have no idea how much you encourage me!

Chapter Thirteen – Playing Catch Up


Until that day
My life had been a river
Following the same, pre-destined course,
Suddenly detouring so unexpectedly
With uncompromising force.
My strongholds broke down all too easily;
I remember well,
How it did embarrass me;
I hung on to his every smile
Marveled at his style

Just like that...
He walked into my house
As smug as a cat
He was handsome and smart
Walked away with my heart
Just like that...
He found a temporary home in my flat
Telling innocent lies
Throwing dust in my eyes
But I led him on,
Knowing that someday soon he'd be gone
Just like that...
As though he only stopped awhile for a chat;
But my secrets he learned
Leaving no stone unturned

Just Like That by ABBA

* * * * *

            "Honestly, Ginny, it can't be that bad," Hermione's voice says filtering in through the curtain separating us. 

            I sigh as I regard myself in the mirror again. 

            "It's not bad," I say, pulling the curtain to the dressing room back and stepping out so that she can see me.  "It's absolutely horrible."

            Hermione winces at the sight of me in my bright turquoise bridesmaid dress but bravely tries to be her usual positive self.  "No," she lies, "It brings out the color in your…shoes."

            "Hermione, the shoes came with the dress."

"Exactly," Hermione says, looking away. 

If Colin were here he'd probably tell me that the best thing for me to do is leave the country the weekend of the wedding and hope that Charlie and Karen eventually get over it.  It looks like I have a nest of large ribbons on each shoulder and there is a huge bow located on my left side making me look like a hastily wrapped gift.  Instead of telling me to leave the country, Hermione tries to change the subject.

"Can you believe Charlie's getting married?  I always envisioned him as a die hard bachelor."

"I did too," I say looking at myself in the three way mirror.  "Right now I'm kind of wishing he had stayed that way."

"Ginny," Hermione says trying to frown, though really, I think that goofy smile she's been walking around with can't be quelled.  "You only have to wear it for a couple of hours, take a couple of pictures and then...."

"I can burn it?"  I ask raising a questioning eyebrow.

Hermione gives up on her attempt at being reproachful and resumes the goofy smile.  "I suppose so, I doubt you'll ever have need for it again."

Colin would have offered to do it for me.  I'm glad Hermione is here for moral support, but she's no Colin substitute.  Every time I think about him I get his feeling in my stomach, like it's all knotted up.  He hasn't said a word to me since he came to my house that night.  I feel absolutely horrible about the way things turned out.  I never would have imagined that a fifteen year old friendship could be over in just a matter of minutes.

"Ginny, what's wrong?"  Hermione asks.

"You mean besides the fact that I look like a fashion victim?"

She nods, "You look like something's bothering you."

I sigh, "It's just that just when everything seems to be falling into place it all falls apart.  It's been a week and Colin still won't talk to me.  As if that isn't enough, Gabrielle is moving in with Lars, and I'll have to look for a new roommate."  I pause for a moment as my eyes travel over Hermione's reflection in the mirror. "Wait a minute!  Hermione, you wouldn't want to be roommates would you?"

Hermione's face turns an odd shade of red as she opens her mouth to speak.  "Well, actually, Ginny…Ron's moving in with me on the first of the month."

"He's what?"  I ask, spinning around to look at her.  "Are you serious?"

She nods, her cheeks still scarlet.  "He was staying over so much anyway, that we…" she catches herself and looks down at her hands.  "This is more convenient for both of us."

"Hermione, that's fantastic!"  I say.

"You know, I think entering myself in that contest was the stupidest thing I've ever done," Hermione says continuing to look down at her hands.  "I never would have imagined it could be like this.  I've never felt so out of control and yet so sure of anything in my whole life.  It's odd."  She shakes her head slightly and looks up at me.  "Stupid or not, I'm glad I did it."

I smile at her, knowing exactly how she feels.  "Love makes fools of us all."

Hermione looks at me with surprise.  "Is that Shakespeare?"

I shrug, "I'm not sure, it's something Draco told me once."

"Malfoy?"  She asks, regarding me curiously for a moment.  "How is he doing?"

"He's doing well.  He's out of town on another business trip at the moment, some pressing business in New York.  He left yesterday and I miss him already.  He's supposed to be back by the end of the week.  I thought about going with him, but we decided I should stay here in case anything major happened at the Weekly, while he's gone."

Hermione nods, "Harry asked how you were doing the other day.  I told him you were seeing Malfoy."

"Oh?" I ask, "What did he say?"

"Well, he took it rather well, I think," Hermione said.  "He said he just wanted you to be happy."

I smile, "Is he seeing anyone?"

Hermione frowns, "This woman from the ministry, Monique Monet.  I can't stand her, but I try to be civil for Harry's sake.  I don't think he particularly likes her himself.  Honestly, I think he's just afraid of being alone."

"We're all afraid of that." 

"Oh, before I forget," Hermione says, "I'm throwing a dinner party for Ron's birthday, do you think you and Malfoy can make it."

"Of course!" I say.  "We'd love to come."

Madame Malkin walks into the dressing area and puts on a large fake smile.  "Oh, you look lovely, dear."

 "Right," I say darkly, "if you define lovely as a huge Easter egg."

'Now, now, it's not that bad," she says, patting my arm reassuringly and pulling out her wand.  I wonder why people always say 'It's not that bad'.  I mean I suppose it isn't when compared to famine or war, but compared to every other dress I've ever seen it is bad.  Really bad.  "A few alterations and it will look much, much better."

I doubt it, but I say nothing as she begins working on the dress.  At the moment I have bigger problems to worry about.

* * * * *

            "All right," I say, shuffling the papers in front of me.  "Does anyone have any questions about their assignments?"

            I look around the table of writers and photographers for the Weekly, my eye traveling over each of them until I land on Colin who is looking determinedly down at the table.  "All right, then.  Assignments are due by the end of the week.  This meeting is dismissed.  Colin, can I speak with you for a moment?"

            I purposely put myself between him and the door.  This has gone on long enough.  Colin looks down at his watch.  "I'm really busy, Virginia," he says his tone clipped.

            I step towards him and put my hand on his arm, "Please?"

            "I'm sorry, I can't," he says shrugging me off and trying to pass me on the right. 

            I step right to block him, then left, then right, then left.

            "Virginia," he says exasperated, "just let me by, will you?"

            The meeting room is deserted now except for us.  I cross my arms and shake my head.  "No.  Not until we sort things out between us."

            "There's nothing to sort out," Colin says, his voice cold.  "You think you know someone, you think you can trust them and then they just completely let you down."

            "Colin," I say feeling the knots tighten in my stomach.  "I'm sorry.  I never meant to hurt you."

            "A little late for that, isn't it?"  Colin says having given up on trying to get by and now settling on just glaring at me.

            "I had no idea that you felt that way about me.  I'm sorry, if I had known…"

            "Felt what way?" Colin asks.  "You had no idea that I considered you my best friend?  That I thought we could tell one another anything?"

            "Colin, just listen to me.  I know you're angry at me, and rightly so.  If I had known how you felt about me…I don't know what I would have done, but I think that perhaps things would have turned out better.  I'm sorry I didn't see the signs.  I should have.  I should have, but I didn't.  Lunch and standing up to Draco and coming to my place on Valentine's Day.  I know I should have told you about Draco, but I didn't know how.  Draco had wanted our relationship to stay quiet.  I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I never meant for things to turn out this way.  I miss talking to you, I miss your advice and your stories and laughing with you…I miss you, Colin.  I just want you to forgive me for being so dense and not realizing that you're in love with me.  I'm sorry for not telling you about Draco.  I just want to be friends again."

            "Virginia, I'm not in love with you," Colin says looking at me strangely.

            "Oh, Colin," I say taking his hand.  "It's okay.  I know.  You told me, remember?"

            "Told you what?" Colin asks, his forehead wrinkling in confusion. 

            "T-that you loved me," I say, wondering what on Earth he is doing by pretending not to know what I'm talking about.  Maybe he's in denial.  Merlin knows he's read enough about it.  Or maybe he thinks that if he just acts like it didn't happen I'll do the same.

            "Oh," he says his eyes growing wide, "You mean that night at your apartment…when I found Malfoy hiding in your closet?"

            I sigh with relief.  "Yes."

            "Virginia…Of course, I love you, but I'm not in love with you."

            "What?" I ask dropping his hand.  "Oh, you mean…anymore.  You're not in love with me anymore?  Well, I don't blame you.  It's probably for the best, but can't we go back to being friends?  It's terrible without you.  The other day Hermione went with me to get my bridesmaid dress fitted and all I could think about was what you would have done and what you would have said…it was horrible."

            Colin opens his mouth to speak and nothing comes out.  I realize I'm holding my breath and force myself to breathe normally.  Colin bites his lip and then a sound escapes him that can only be described as a whimper.  I experience a moment of panic as I wonder if he's going to start crying.  I don't know what I'll do if he starts crying…

            Colin bursts out laughing, something that is an alarming and yet, at the same time, a welcomed sound.  He can barely get the words out between gasps for breath.  "Y-you…thought…I was in love…with …you?"

            I stare at him in shock.  Never in the scenarios I had mentally prepared for had Colin burst out laughing.  I wonder if there is something genuinely funny about the situation or if I've actually pushed the poor bloke over the edge. 

            "Well….yes." 

He starts laughing even harder. 

"Colin, please stop laughing.  I don't see what's so funny."

My words seem to sober him a bit as he is able to straighten up and look me in the eye.  "Ginny, I'm sorry, there's been a huge misunderstanding.  I didn't go to your house on Valentine's Day to tell you I was in love with you."

"You didn't?"  I ask, confused.

"No…what I was trying to say, before being interrupted, was that I love you and I couldn't bear to keep you in the dark any longer…"

"In the dark about what?"

"About me," he says, he takes a deep breath and straightens up a bit.  "Ginny, I'm gay."

"YOU'RE WHAT?"  I ask, my voice shrill to my own ears.

"I've been trying to tell you for weeks, but there was never a right time and I didn't know how you'd take it.  I guess deep down I've known forever, I just never wanted to admit it to myself.  I think I realized first year when I became obsessed with Harry, but I didn't realize or understand how I felt and tried to ignore it.  Then on New Year's Eve, I had a breakthrough on my headwizard's couch.  I didn't want to believe it at first, I mean…it does make things a bit more complicated, doesn't it?  It got so bad that even the mention of love made me extremely nervous.  Even after I managed to accept it, I had no idea how to tell those closest to me.  What was I supposed to do?  Walk around with a bloody sign on my back? And I guess…I guess a part of me didn't want this to change anything between me and you.  I didn't want you to treat me differently."

"Oh, Colin," I breathe, feeling stupid and shocked and sad.  I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his thin form.  "I love you too!  Merlin, I've been so incredibly daft!  Made a right fool out of myself, didn't I?"  I pull back and look up at the shocked expression on his face.  "Colin, I don't care if you're gay or straight.  You're my best friend; I just want you to be happy."

He grins down at me.  "Honestly?"

"Honestly," I say hugging him again.  There is a moment of silence where I'm just glad to have my friend back, then I pull away from him suddenly.  "Wait a minute, if you weren't in love with me, than why have you been avoiding me these last two weeks?"

"Because," Colin says frowning down at me, "you've been seeing Malfoy behind my back.  We're supposed to be best friends and you never even told me!"

"Colin, I'm sorry about that," I say.  "Things just happened so quickly and I gave my word to Draco that I wouldn't tell anyone.  Professionalism is very important to him."

"I'm not just anyone," Colin says.

"No you're not," I say smiling at him.  "If I promise to tell you everything from now on, do you think we could go back to being friends again?"

"You mean, no secrets?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

I nod, "But it's a two way street mate.  Next time, just tell me, or I'm likely to read anything into it."

He looks down at me and then gives me a warm smile.  "Throw lunch into the mix and you've got yourself a deal."

I smile back at him, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

* * * * *

            "I hate looking for roommates," I say, collapsing into a chair. 

            "I'm sorry you have to look," Gabrielle says giving me an apologetic look.

            "No, don't be sorry," I say smiling at her.  "I'm glad that things are working out for you and Lars."

            Gabrielle smiles, "I'm redoing his whole flat.  It's terrible, there are beer bottles littering the floor and Quidditch posters everywhere you turn…I'm thinking floral, but not too feminine."

            "Is there a floral that isn't too feminine?"  Colin asks, emerging from the kitchen with the drinks. 

            "Well, there's…"  Gabrielle pauses, "Maybe I should go with a seaside look.  Lighthouses and ships and seashells…"

            "One Gin-Gin, one rum and coke and a martini for me.  Let the prospective roommates do their worst," Colin says cheerfully.

            "The first one should be arriving in about five minutes," I say, glancing down at the list of names that have responded to my ad in the Daily Prophet.

            "Do you know what you're looking for?"  Gabrielle asks.

            "Someone who pays the rent on time," I say, shrugging.

            "Someone who doesn't mind you and Malfoy getting wild one room over," Colin says with a wink. 

            "Colin!" I say feeling myself blush.

            Gabrielle laughs, "That's true, it's not like you're the quiet kind.  All last week I had to put silencing charms outside your door."

            I spit out my drink.  "Gabrielle!"

            There's a knock on the door and I move to get it, but Colin waves me down.  He opens the door and leads a tall and thin witch in.  She looks a tad like a librarian with her plain white blouse, long black skirt and her straw colored hair swept up in a prim bun.  She smiles at me and offers her hand.  "Hello.  You must be Ginny.  I'm Pamela McDougal."

            "Oh, yes," I say as she crushes my hand in an overly firm handshake.  "Nice to meet you.  I've heard only good things about you from Hermione.  Please, have a seat."

            She perches herself on the very edge of the couch, her posture rigid.  "Yes, Hermione Granger…an excellent Mediwitch.  Perhaps the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with.  Oh, before I forget, here are my references listed alphabetically and color coded."

            "Thank you," I say as I almost knock over my Gin-Gin to get them.  She looks around the flat, seemingly taking in every inch and frowns slightly.  "I guess I should start by asking a little about you.  Have you ever had a roommate before?"

            "Yes, of course," she says as she begins to arrange the issues of Witch Weekly I have spread out on my coffee table.  I wait for further explanation, but none is forthcoming. 

            "What happened to them?"  Colin asks, shooting me an amused look.

            "We had…differences in opinion," she says as she begins to put the magazines back out on the coffee table in a symmetrically pleasing way.

            "What kind of differences?" Gabrielle asks. 

            She manages to tear her attention away from the magazines on the table to look up at us.  "Well, it was silly, really.  We couldn't agree on a cleaning schedule.  As a mediwitch, I know the importance of cleanliness, my roommate, however, did not."

            "I see," I say, suddenly feeling very self-conscious about the cleanliness of my own flat. 

            "So she was a slob," Colin says bluntly.

            "Exactly," McDougal says smiling.  "She absolutely refused to arrange the cupboard alphabetically.  I don't know about you, but in my opinion our ability to alphabetize is what separates us from the animals."

            "Funny," Colin says, "I always thought it was our ability to talk."

            "Yes, well," I say clearing my throat.  "I think that's all the questions we have for you right now.  I'll be sure to owl you after we finish the other interviews."

            The rest of the interviews don't really go any better.  Next on the list is a response to the ad.  Martha Ashton, is a short, stocky witch who works at the Ministry of Magic.  She seems nice enough as we go through the list of questions Colin, Gabrielle and I have thought up for potential roommates.  We hit a snag though when it comes to the issue of rent.

            "Rent is due at the beginning of the month.  Will that be a problem for you?"

            "Yes," she says unblinkingly.

            I exchange a look with Colin.  "Really?"

            "Well, you see, I'm a little short this month.  I might have to borrow some money, but I think I can make it."

            "Oh, you mean from friends?"  Colin asks. 

            "Yes, that's right…from friends," She says looking at us oddly.  "So how about it?"

            "How about the apartment?" I ask, confused.  "Well, I'll have to finish reviewing the other applicants, but as of now, if you can get the rent money, you're at the top of the list."

            "No," she says rolling her eyes.  "How about lending me the money for the first month's rent.  Also, I need to buy some new clothes, so anything else you have lying about I could put to some good use too."

            "Are you asking Ginny to lend you the first month's rent?"  Gabrielle asks, her eyebrows rising in astonishment.

            "Well, yeah.  We are friends, aren't we?"  She asks looking hard at me.

            "Um…" I don't really know what to say.

            "I think that will be all," Colin says quickly.  "Thank you for coming."

            Colin begins to herd her out the door, but she stops abruptly in the doorway.  "Wait, I'm a little low on money, could you lend me some cab fare?"

            "Just disapparate," Colin says, exasperated.  "It's free, you know."

            "I can't, they track those movements you know?  If I disapparated, they might be able to find me."

            "Who might be able to find you?"  Colin says, his hands on his hips. 

            "Some…co-workers that I owe some money too," she says, nervously.  "I just need enough to…"

            She's cut off as Colin shuts the door in her face.

            "What a nightmare!" I say, downing the rest of my Gin-Gin and getting up to get another. 

            "Where did she say she worked again?"  Gabrielle says, "The Ministry of Money Owers?"

            Colin snorts as the doorbell rings again.  We all exchange a weary look as Gabrielle goes to open the door.  I can hear her voice from the hallways as I pour myself another drink.

            "Yes?"

            "Is this the apartment for rent?  The one advertised in the Daily Prophet?"  Comes a deep voice from the hallway.

            "Well…"

            I walk to the door.  There is a tall, sandy haired man standing there.  "Can I help you?"

            "I'm here to interview for the apartment.  I had an appointment for seven?"

            "There must be a mistake," I say, glancing down at the list of applicants.  "I have a Nicole for seven."

            The man smiles at me.  "Yes, exactly."

            He pushes past Gabrielle and holds his hand out to me.  "Nice to meet you."

            "What?"  I say, startled.  "You mean you're Nicole?"

            "Well, until a week ago," he says grinning.  "Now I'm just Nick."

            Colin sticks his head out of the kitchen.

            "Yes, well…I'm terribly sorry, but I'm only taking female roommates at this time," I say, pushing him out the door.  "Thank you for applying!"

            I shut the door against his protests and turn to face Colin and Gabrielle who look horrified.  "Can this go any more horribly?"

            It can and it does.  The next applicant is Irene Hopkins, who shows up in an outfit that doesn't leave much to the imagination.  It becomes apparent during questioning that her job in "Customer Service" is actually one as a call girl.  The interview ends abruptly when she offers to let Gabrielle and I join her organization and then says Colin can watch. 

            By the time the last intervewee shows up, I'm a little giggly.  I may have over done it a bit on my Gin-Gins in order to block out the horrors of roommate searching.  Rebecca Benaldi is forty five minutes late when she shows up on my doorstep wearing a ton of make-up and a revealing dress.

            She has long dark hair and her eyes look worried as she holds her hand for me to take.  "I'm so sorry I'm late, rehearsal ran over."

            "Rehearsal?"  Colin asks, obviously a bit tipsy himself.  He eyes her outfit with a slight frown.  "I guess practice makes perfect in your line of work.  'Customer Service' is all about satisfying the customer after all, isn't it?"

            I break out into a fit of giggles as Benaldi returns Colin's frown.  "Customer Service?  I'm an actress."

            "Darling, we all are.  Especially when it's late and you're tired and all you want to do is go to sleep.  I've faked a few with Lars, you know?"  Gabrielle says in a quick rush, her drink sloshing around in it's glass.  Colin and I burst out laughing, while Benaldi's frown deepens.

            "I'm in The Mousetrap at St. Martin's on West Street.  The rehearsal ran late and I didn't have time to change out of my wardrobe or take off my stage make-up."

            "Oh!"   I cry, feeling horrible.  "Oh, I'm so sorry…"

            "It's just that we've seen just about everything tonight," Colin finishes for me.  "We thought you were a…"

            "A prostitute?"  She asks, breaking out into a smile.  "No, I just play one."

            "Well, that's a relief," Gabrielle says, her cheeks burning. 

            "This shouldn't take long," I say feeling that my search for a suitable roommate is hopeless.  "Have you ever had a roommate before?  If so, what happened to them?"

            "Well, his wife came home,"  Benaldi says shrugging.

            "What?"  Gabrielle asks.  "He was married!"

            "I'm just kidding, he moved in with his girlfriend and I can't afford a flat on my own, so here I am."

            I give a sigh of relief and smile at her. 

            "You're accent, are you American?"  Gabrielle asks, curiously.

            "Yeah, I'm from Boston, Mass originally.  Then New York, San Franciso, Boston again, and, finally, here."

            "How did you end up in London?"  Colin asks while fishing out the martini in his glass and munching on it.

            "I was trying to get away from my parents, and this was the farthest place away I could afford a ticket to. Plus, I needed a big city and it reminded me of New York."

            "Do you have a boyfriend or other friend who will be staying here frequently?"  I ask.

            "I'm flying single for the time being. The only person you run the risk of walking in on me with is my best friend, Ahn -- Anya. She's incredibly blunt, but sweet once you get to know her."

            "What is your stance on cleaning schedules?"  Colin asks.

            "I guess I could follow one, but I'm not really a neat freak or a slob. I like comfortable clutter."

            "Good answer," Gabrielle says encouragingly.

            "Rent is due at the first of the month, is this a problem?" I ask.

            Benaldi shakes her head.  "Not at all."

            "Do you have any cute male gay friends?"  Colin asks hopefully.

            "Ahn's brother is quite a dish... questionable sexuality, though."

            "For a guy's apartment, do you think floral is okay, or is a sea motif better?"  Gabrielle asks, leaning forward eagerly.

            "You're kidding right?"  Benaldi says looking up at me.  I shrug and take another sip of my latest Gin-Gin.  "Oh, you're not. Okay then. Umm... sea motif is better, then. With lots of darkish blues."

            "Ooooh, you know what?  I think that would work," Gabrielle says falling back into the couch with a satisfied grin.

            "How do you feel about roommates who are loud during wild sex?"  Colin asks raising an eyebrow.  I swap at him, but it seems I miss him by a couple of feet.  I realize I've had much too much to drink when I almost fall off my chair. 

            Benaldi laughs, "I don't mind, as long as I can return the favor."

            "If we run out of mint chocolate chip, will you pop quickly to the shop to buy some more?"

            "Only if I can snag some chocolate chip cookie dough while I'm at it."

            "Rebecca," I say, standing up on wobbly feet.  "When can you move in?"

            She stands and smiles at me.  "Tomorrow, and call me Becca."

* * * * *

            "Draco," I say breathlessly as I push him away.  "We have to go.  We're already fifteen minutes late!"

            He's currently kissing my neck, his arms wrapped around my waist. 

"So, we'll be a little late," he says looking up at me, a mischievous glint in his eye.  "I missed you."

            I laugh before kissing him softly on the lips, "I missed you too.  Please tell me you won't have to go back to New York again for a while.  I don't think I can take it."

            "I won't have to go back to New York for a while," he says leaning in to kiss me again as he gently pushes me towards the bed. 

            It takes all of my self-restraint to push him away for good this time.  "Draco, we can't.  It's Ron's birthday dinner.  We can't miss it."

            He gives a little frustrated sigh, as he runs his fingers through his hair.  "Yeah, alright."

            "We'll catch up later," I say, grinning at his reflection in my mirror as I put on my earrings.

            He smirks at me.  "If by 'catch up', you mean we'll have wild, passionate sex, then I think I can wait."

            "No," I say rolling my eyes.  "I mean we can sit over tea and discuss your trip."

            "Well, in that case," he says standing and wrapping his arms around me from behind.  "I'm not sure I can wait."

            He bends down and kisses the nape my neck where my hair is swept up into a french twist.  I smile at the picture of us in the mirror.  I don't think I've ever seen anything more perfect in my entire life.

* * * * *

            "Oh, there you are!"  Hermione says opening the door.  "I was beginning to wonder if anything had happened."

            "We're terribly sorry for being so late," I say hastily, as I give her a hug..  "I just completely lost track of time."

            Hermione nods, "Yes, well, that happens.  You're the last to arrive.  Everyone's in the dining room.  Hello Mal – Draco."

            "Hermione," Draco says nodding in her direction.  She leads us down the hall of her small but elegant apartment.  We can hear the sounds of laughter filtering through the dining room doorway.

            "And then Ron completely blew up at Hermione for going to the Yule Ball with Vicktor Krum in fourth year," a familiar voice recounts.  "He was so jealous he couldn't see straight.  I think that's when I knew."

            The speaker comes into view as Hermione opens the door and we enter the dining room.  Harry is smiling, looking thoroughly relaxed, his arm around Monique Monet.  Across from them Gabrielle and Lars are grinning, and Ron is sitting beside an empty chair, his ears slightly red. 

            They all look up as we enter.

            "They're here," Hermione says with a smile as she takes her seat beside Ron.  I don't miss the way their hands intertwine under the table. 

            "Happy Birthday, Ron," I say, walking over and giving him a peck on the cheek. 

            "Thanks, Ginny," he says, grinning at me.  Draco and I take our seats opposite Ron and Hermione.

            "Draco, I think you know everyone," Hermione says, "Except for Lars and Monique.  Draco Malfoy, this is Lars Stephano and Monique Monet."

            Draco raises his eyebrows in surprise.  "Lars, the paid es—"

            I burst out into a fit of coughing, causing everyone to turn to me.  "So sorry…" I say, pretending to catch my breath.  I take a sip of water.  "I must have swallowed wrong."

            "That's right," Lars says quickly.  "I'm the paid employee of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, and proud of it."

            Beside him, Gabrielle giggles and squeezes his arm.  Her eyes meet mine and I'm fairly certain that she knows about the blind date Lars and I had back in December.  Draco seems to catch on to my unspoken hint and keeps his mouth shut, shooting me an amused look. 

            "Draco Malfoy, huh?"  Monique says, unimpressed.  "I've heard a lot about you.  Not all of it good."

            Draco turns towards her.  He leveled an apathetic look at her.  "Obviously, you haven't been talking to my friends then, otherwise it would have been all bad."

            Harry, who had been taking a drink of water, snorted in his glass.

            "So, what were you talking about before we got here?"  I ask, curiously.

            "The torrid romance of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley," Gabrielle says.  "Harry was telling us how it all began."

            "Fourth year, wasn't it, Ginny?"  Harry asks, looking to me for confirmation.

            "It was bloody obvious you two were going to end up together," Draco says from beside me.  "I never thought it'd would involve Weasley parading around in his boxers, though."

            Ron shoots Draco a glare, as Hermione laughs.  "Shut it, Malfoy," Ron said, the red about his ears deepening.

            "You should have seen them on our group date," Lars says, smiling.  "Gabrielle and I didn't know whether to separate them or just push them together."

            Ron grins, "Yeah, well looks like it didn't take you two too long to get over us."

            Monique clears her throat, "Did you see the picture of Harry and I in the Daily Prophet on Wednesday?"

            Everyone turns to look at her.  Harry gives a small sigh, his smile fading.

            "No, I don't think I did," Hermione says, looking slightly annoyed.

            "It was on page three between the wedding announcement of Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan and…"

            "I always knew they were going to get married," Harry says interrupting her.

            "Yeah," Ron says grinning.  "Seamus was always crazy about her."

            "I didn't even know they were engaged," I say. 

            "AND…" Monique says speaking above all of us, "the obituary of Argus Filch."

            "That's so sad," Hermione says.

            "What?"  Ron asks, "He was a mean old man with a mean old cat who wanted nothing more than to lock all three of us up all through our years at Hogwarts."

            "He wasn't all that bad," I say.  "He was just lonely, I imagine it wasn't easy being a squib in a castle full of young students."

            "If you ask me," Draco says, "he had an unnatural relationship with his cat.  Really, why would you name your cat Mrs. Norris?"

            "Well," Hermione says a little too brightly, "I think we should start eating now, don't you?"

            "Good idea," Lars says as Hermione flicks her wand and the food floats in from the kitchen.  "Hermione, everything looks great."

            "Thank you," Hermione says, flashing him a smile.  "I wanted everything to be perfect.  I was going to borrow the Romanian cookbook I gave Molly for Christmas, but she seems to have misplaced it."

            "Really?  That's odd."  Draco says, raising his eyebrows at me.  I give him a tight lipped smile.

            "So, we'll be having Bulgarian tonight."

            "Wasn't Vicktor Krum from Bulgaria?"  Draco asks, amused.

            "Well…yes," Hermione says shooting Ron a look.  "But I thought that…"

            "It looks great!" I say quickly. 

            "It does," Harry says nodding.  "Ron, doesn't it look great?"

            "Abso-bloody-lutely," Ron says leaning over to kiss Hermione on the lips.

            I pick up my fork and am about to eat when Harry's voice makes me look up.

            "What are you doing?"  He asks, looking strangely at Monique.  She is holding a fork up to his mouth, with some strange white substance that I've decided to hide under my meat. 

            She sighs and rolls her eyes, looking uncertainly at us.  "I'm feeding you, darling."  She pecks him on the cheek.

            Draco snorts, "Maybe baby Potter needs you to do the airplane, Monet."

            I kick Draco under the table, as Harry gives him an Avada Kedavra look.

            "It's okay, I can handle it," Harry says to Monique, pushing the fork down. 

            To my left Gabrielle is tasting the white substance carefully.  "This is interesting, Hermione.  What is it?"

            "Cheese," Hermione says, "the Bulgarians love cheese."

            "This is cheese?"  Lars asks, holding up a fork of the white substance.

            "It's sheep cheese," Draco says knowingly as he takes a bite of it.  "Excellent sheep cheese, at that."  Gabrielle coughs slightly as she swallows and then takes a few swigs of water. 

            "Thank you," says Hermione blushing slightly.  "I tried to get the best."

            "Arrrgh!" Monique sounds as she spits the food into her napkin.  "This is sheep cheese?  That's disgusting."

            "Monique," Harry says warningly. 

            "It is," she says defensively.  "Did you know it was sheep cheese?"

            "Oh," Hermione says, her face falling.  "You don't like it?"

            "It's fine," Harry says, giving her an apologetic look.

            Hermione turns to Lars and a pale looking Gabrielle.  "Don't you like it?"

            "It's not that I don't like it, I just forgot I was lactose intolerant," Lars says quickly.

            Hermione bites her lip. 

            "It's wonderful!"  Ron says, heaping spoonfuls of it onto his plate.  "I've never had anything better in my whole life."  He takes a huge bite, pauses momentarily, and then swallows loudly.  He gives Hermione a weak smile.  "Yum."

            Hermione gives him a small smile in return.

            "So," Lars says, "what's for dessert?"

            "Ginny," Draco whispers in my ear.  "Please tell me that's your hand on my leg and not a misguided relative's."

            I look at him blankly.  "What hand?"

            Draco shoots an alarmed look to his right where Harry is inconspicuously palming the white substance into a napkin.  Draco scoots back slightly, looks down at my hand on his leg.  I laugh at him.  "You're so easy."

* * * * *

            "Never a dull moment when you Weasley's get together, is there?"          Draco asks as we make our way up the stairs to my flat.

            "Rarely," I say smiling, as we reach my landing. 

            "Was it me or was that Monet woman the most intolerable, self-involved person you've ever met?"  Draco asked.  "I think if they'd had a paper she would have cut out the picture of her and Potter and framed it for them."

            "I've met worse," I say, giving him a significant look.

            "I am not intolerable, or self-involved," Draco says frowning slightly at me.

            "No?  Did you have to keep saying 'Open up for mummy' to Harry?  And wasn't it you who talked for almost fifteen minutes about all the places you've been?"

            "Hermione asked!"  Draco said, defensively.  "And you have to admit, Monet trying to spoon feed Potter was hilarious."

            I smile up at him and shake my head sadly.  He grins and leans down to kiss me, momentarily distracting me from my search for my keys.   The door opens and a blonde woman I've never seen before shouts over her shoulder.  "Becca, what kind of delivery did you order?"

            "Oh," I say, pulling away from Draco.  "I'm Ginny, I live here."

            "I'm Anya," the woman says, pulling the door open.  "Becca and I are having a girl's night out with no men.  We are tired of their lies and fickle ways."

            She looks at Draco, "Who is he?  He is tall and much too good looking."

            I glance behind my shoulder, Draco looks flattered.

            Becca appears from the apartment.  "Ginny, hi!  Anya and I have had the worst night believable, we were thinking about having a videofest and…Oh, hello."  She stops abruptly noticing Draco behind me.

            "Draco, meet Becca Benaldi, my new roommate.  Becca, this is Draco Malfoy, my boyfriend."

            "Nice to meet you," Becca says, holding out her hand to Draco. 

            "Likewise," Draco says, taking her hand.  

            "Oh," Anya says, "is this the loud one?"

            I feel my cheeks go scarlet.

            "Actually, she's the loud one," Draco says, nudging me.

            I spin around and hit him, completely embarrassed.  "Draco!"

            "Well, come in," Becca says with a grin as she opens the door.  "Don't let us scare you away from your own apartment.  We're just going to be watching some videos in the living room."

            "Actually, I just realized I forgot something at Draco's," I say, looking up at him.  The last thing I want to do is try to have an intimate moment with Draco while my roommate and her best friend are one room over.  "We should probably go get it."

            "Of course," he says.  He turns toward Becca and Anya.  "It was nice meeting you."

            "Oh, you too," Becca says, raising her eyebrows as Draco turns back towards the stairs.  Becca looks at me with a wink and whispers.  "Don't worry, I won't wait up."

            I smile at her, feeling the blush in my cheek darken as I follow Draco down the steps. 

* * * * *

            Five minutes later, we're standing outside of Draco's door.  There is the sound of keys jingling in his hand and then he pushes the door open for us.    

            "Your roommate seems nice," he says, throwing his keys on the coffee table.

            "She is," I say, sitting down on the couch.  "I think things are really going to work out.

            "That's good," he says sitting beside me.  He gently takes my face in his hands and pulls me in for a long kiss.  "Don't you think it's about time we play 'catch up'?" he whispers in my ear.

            I smile as I get up and lead him towards the bedroom.  He pulls me into a deep kiss that leaves my knees week.  I kiss him back, my hands working to free him of the button down shirt he's wearing.  I pull back in order to slide off his shirt and he pulls me onto the bed.   I can feel his fingers working at the zipper on my skirt and his breath against the skin of my neck. 

            My eyes travel over the length of the room and then stop abruptly as the bathroom door is opened.  A woman steps out of the bathroom into the bedroom, wearing only a towel, her blonde hair lying limply on her shoulders.  "Draco, darling, you're out of shampoo."

             I take a deep breath as Draco sits up, startled.  "What are you doing here?"  he asks bewildered.

            "Draco," I ask, my voice shaking slightly.  "Who is this?"

            "I'm his wife," she says, looking coldly at me.  "Who are you?"

* * * * *

A/N: Please review!  I absolutely love reviews where you tell me what you loved/hated about the story.  Please take the time to let me know what you like/dislike! 

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Just a girl, Isadora, Serepida, Tibby, Tifa, Archana, Herione, Chocolate Muse, Lady Laughs-A-Lot, Lola, Silver Essence, Grey Rhapsody, calculatingcat26, ShortySC22, Aly, Potty for Potter, Cosmoz_Dracoscutie, Eclipse, Wizzabee, Crica, fierydragonm AnonymousMe, Ravyn Nyte, Jo, HPFreak, NicoleHP2000, Candygi523, Sad Strange Little Girl, Sasami, Dashara, Potterzgirl, Shadow Lord, and Sokorra Lewis … Thank you guys so much for leaving a review for me.  You have no idea how much they make my day. 

Cassi0peia Once again you tickled me pink with your long review!  Thank you so much for telling me exactly what you liked about the chapter!  Funny you should mention Gregory Freeman for Colin....  I'm honored to be mentioned as one of your favorite Ginnys in fan fiction!

BlondPrincess  I'd hate to lose your friendship…seeing as how we're best friends.  Hope you can forgive me for taking so long!

Marina Pearl You'll just have to use your imagination as to what happened in Ginny's bedroom, I'm not telling. ;)

Steph  Colin is nice, and he wasn't the one that took the break up pictures of Ginny/Harry.

FlavOftheWeek  I can't wait to see what your artistic volunteer has produced.  Email me sometimes.  booksmartbrilliance@msn.com

Ravyn Nyte   Thank you for your long and thoughtful review!  "Eat at Cho's" is something that I've had in my mind for ages!  It's good to let go.

Kaitlin-Scott I'm glad you could relate to Colin.  *hugs Colin* 

FemmeDraconis  Thank you so much for taking the time to review my chapters.

VoldemortsIlligitimateChild   Mark Wahlberg, you can't go wrong with him. :) 

Anyanka  I love Bridget Jones' Diary!  I think I've read the book and seen the movie about three times each!  This fic was definitely inspired by it.  I consider it a compliment that you can see it in my writing.

Imanewser  Send me the picture!!!!  My addy is booksmartbrilliance@msn.com.

Ickleronnikins  YOU ROX!  That is all.

Lioness-07863  They are a little out of character, but I love them all.

Emerald Eyez  Thank you so much for your kind compliments!  I'm glad you enjoy my writing and think that Draco has hit a nice middle.  I'm very flattered!