Dedicated to StarWars-Freak. You're an absolute darling! Chapter 3: Leave Me Alone

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It's crazy but sometimes I feel like,
I want to run away, sometimes I feel like,
I've gotta get away, one day you will see,
Another side of me, my life I command,
It's not the way that you planned
 Leave me alone 
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Out on my own 
Out on my own
Leave me alone

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Leave Me Alone – The Corrs

On Saturday night Ginny dressed in the same dress she had worn to the party. It was dark green, and suited her perfectly. Thick straps held it up over her shoulders. It wasn't very low cut, but enough so. The hem came down to her ankles, and slits came up to just above her knees. It was her favourite dress.

She pulled on her green shoes to match and put her hair into a bun, with locks of hair falling into her face. Applying a small amount of make-up took no time at all. Kara watched the process from her perch.

"I honestly do not know why I am doing this." Ginny told her owl. Kara hooted.

"I know its Draco Malfoy. I know he's a prat. I know I hate him. But I haven't had a date in two years. I need some kind of social life, occasionally!" Ginny protested, before stopping to wonder why she was defending herself against an owl.

There was a knock at the outside door. There was a flight of steps on the outside of the house so Ginny didn't have to go through the shop every time she wanted to leave the flat. Ginny opened the door.

Draco Malfoy, dressed in a black and white tuxedo was standing outside the door. His eyebrow rose again at the sight of her.

"Not bad, Weasley." He said. Ginny rolled her eyes and picked up her bag.

"Let's just go, Malfoy." She shut the door behind her and followed him down the steps.

"Where are we going, Malfoy?"

"A friend of mine is holding a dance at his workplace."

"What friend?"

"Blaise Zabini."

Ginny vaguely recalled a short, fat boy from Hogwarts.

"What does he do?"

"He owns a restaurant in Lincolnshire. Very classy. He's invited half of the ministry."

"What? I can't go there! What if someone sees me?

"What?" Malfoy stopped.

"If one of my father's friends sees me with you, he'll find out about me seeing you!"

"So?"

"So, my family will kill me if they think we're going out!"

"But we're not. And don't worry. Zabini is very selective. He won't have invited anyone who will tell your father."

Ginny remained unconvinced. Malfoy held out a portkey and she put her hand on the crystal ball. Within thirty seconds they were standing outside a large, stone building. It had carving over the walls. A man stood at the door. It was Blaise Zabini. He shook Malfoy's hand.

"How are you, Draco?"

"Very well. And you?"

"Couldn't be better. And who is this?" Blaise turned to look at Ginny. Hs eyes widened.

"Weasley?" He said in shock. Malfoy ignored him, and took Ginny's arm, steering her through the door. A waiter took them to a table set for two and they sat down. Ginny looked around at the other guests.

Most of them were ministry workers, as Malfoy had said. But she could see more than a few who were Deatheaters, who had not been caught. Ginny stared around with a growing feeling of horror. Malfoy glanced across at her.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing." She said. She was convinced that Malfoy was in fact a Deatheater, and didn't think he would appreciate her mentioning the fact.

The waiter brought them two menus. Ginny glanced down at the page. Malfoy said,

"The duck."

"And for you, Madam?"

"The chicken, please."

Malfoy ordered them drinks, and as the waiter left he turned to look at Ginny. She stared at the tablecloth. Eventually he said,

"Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You tell me." he said. Ginny shrugged.

"Because I'm on a date with someone who can't stand me, and I can't stand him."

"I don't hate you."

"Then why-"

"Why did I say those things at Hogwarts?"

"Exactly. No offence, but you were a bastard to me and my friends."

"How could I possibly take offence from that? Weasley, people do change. I can't stand Potter, Granger, or your brothers. But I never had anything against you."

"Since when?"

"Since you got good-looking." Malfoy smirked. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Why did you ask me out?" she demanded. Malfoy shrugged.

"Partly because you're cute. Partly because I wanted to see the look on your face. And partly…"

"What?"

Malfoy leant forward and said,

"And partly because I like your attitude. It makes it more challenging."

Ginny cast around for a subject that wouldn't end up with her trying to hurt him.

"Did you pick a design?"

"The third one."

"Good. I'll send it ASAP."

The waiter arrived with their meals. For a few minutes they concentrated on the food. Then Ginny said,

"You do realise that this is a one-off?"

"Why?"

"Because I don't like you. I told you that in the shop."

"We'll see. Come on, let's dance." He stood up and held out his hand. Ginny hesitated, and then took it.

Dancing with Malfoy wasn't something that she had ever expected to do. Especially to a slow song. But as he put a hand on her waist she found herself perfectly at ease. They danced for five songs in a row, before stopping to have a drink. Standing at the bar, Ginny found herself getting some approving looks from several men. She felt very uncomfortable. Malfoy seemed to sense this because he took her out into the gardens. They were a maze of flowerbeds and fountains, with fairies flying overhead.

"Having a good time?" Malfoy asked.

"Surprisingly, it's not bad." Ginny replied, sitting on a stone bench.  Malfoy was looking up at the star-studded sky. He sat down on the bench. Ginny subconsciously shuffled further away from him. Malfoy's eyebrow twitched, but did no more than that. He asked,

"Why can't I see you again?"

"Because I only did this to get you out of my shop."

"So you wouldn't normally go out with me?"

"Hell no."

"Why not?"

Ginny felt her temper rising.

"I have told you a billion times! I don't like you!" she glanced at her watch, "I've got to go home."

She stood up, but Malfoy stood too. She turned to snap at him but his lips had met hers.

A moment later he pulled away and smirked at her.

"You can't tell me you didn't enjoy that."

There were no words to describe Ginny's fury. So she used actions.

SLAP!

Her hand slapped Malfoy's face. His shock gave her enough time to turn and walk away from him. But he jumped after her and seized her arm.

"Weasley!"

"Leave me alone Malfoy!"

"But-"

"Don't you come near me again! Leave me alone!"

"Weasley, I-"

She apparated away before he could finish her sentence. As she arrived outside her front door uttered a small scream at her stupidity. Letting herself in she kicked her shoes off and slammed the door shut. Kara started to hoot noisily. Ginny told her to shut up. Throwing her dress over a chair she climbed into bed.

How could she have been so damn stupid? It was obvious what Malfoy had wanted! Ginny screamed into her pillow. She was such an idiot!

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On Monday morning Ginny was still in a bad temper. She had snapped at both Rebecca and Kathleen, spilt coffee on her designs and upset two customers.  When the assistants went for their lunch break, she was arranging some robes when the bell rang and someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"What?" she snapped, turning round. Harry stepped back, looking shocked.

"Sorry… bad time?"

"Oh… Harry… no, I'm just having one of those days when everything is going wrong." Ginny said, feeling her troubles melt away at the sight of his green eyes. Harry smiled slightly.

"I just wondered if you wanted to have a drink."

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"Um, OK. The assistants should be back any minute. Oh, here's Thomas now." A blonde boy walked into the shop, looking slightly fearful when Ginny stepped towards him.

"I'm going to the pub."

"O-OK."

"You can close the shop early if you want. Have some time off." Ginny said, feeling generous.

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"So, how have you been?" Harry asked, putting their drinks onto the table.

"I've been better, frankly."

"Why? What's wrong?"

For one insane moment she considered telling him. But common sense took over.

"It's just… all these Deatheater sightings."

"Ah…" Harry's face clouded over. He stared down at his butterbeer.

"We've been doing our best. But we just don't know what he wants. So we can't track him."

"Oh…" Ginny said, not sure of how to reply.

Harry looked up at her and smiled,

"Three months to the wedding. Excited?"

"Absolutely. I've nearly finished Hermione's dress."

"Oh, yes, can you do me an outfit? I meant to ask you last week."

"Of course! I'm already doing Ron's. He's going for the muggle outfit."

"Yeah, that'd be better."

They were talking happily when Harry, who was facing the door, stopped. His eyes narrowed slightly and his jaw tightened. Ginny turned to look at the door. Then wished she hadn't. 

Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were talking quietly as they walked over to the bar. Blaise's eyes fell on Ginny, and he spoke quickly to Malfoy. Malfoy's head turned quickly and saw Ginny and Harry. Ginny spoke to Harry,

"Let's go."

"We don't have to leave because of them."

"Please, Harry, let's just leave." Ginny begged. But too late. Malfoy had strode over to their table and said,

"A word, Weasley." Ginny followed him to the bar where he said quietly,

"Why did you rush off like that?"

"Malfoy, I told you to leave me alone."

"You haven't answered my question." Ginny's temper flared.

"Because I hate your guts. Now leave me alone." He put a hand on her arm. Harry jumped to his feet but Ginny had already cast the Bat Bogey Hex on Malfoy.

"Let's go, Harry." She muttered. Harry followed her outside as the laughter at Malfoy rang in his ears.

"Ginny, what's going on with you and Malfoy?"

"Nothing. He just pissed me off." Ginny said, walking down the street. Harry stepped in front of her.

"Ginny, you can tell me."

"It doesn't matter. He's just an idiot, and I hate him." She said angrily. Harry put his hands on her shoulder and bent so he was level with her eyes.

"I don't want you to think that you can't tell me things."

"I don't. Harry, I'm really tired, I had a bad night. I just need to get some proper sleep. I've been living on caffeine for the past week."

"…OK. I'll owl you soon." And he disapparated. Ginny stood still for a minute then, running her hands through her hair, went to her flat and fell asleep on the sofa.

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I hope you enjoyed it! I'm having fun writing it. I know it's moving pretty quickly.

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie