July 24: Early Morning



I glanced at the clock on the wall and grumbled to myself about being there way too early. I seemed too eager this way; I should have been late.

Ginny had owled me at home to say that she'd meet me at the office at two-thirty that morning. I'd shrugged out of my trench coat, leaving it crumpled on the floor and fallen into an easy chair with a butterbeer. I figured butterbeer would keep my senses keener in the event that this meeting was to be business related, however, I hoped otherwise. After my drink, a shower and a quick spritz of some cologne Ginny had given me when we were still speaking, among other things, I gave myself a quick once-over in the mirror to make sure I was somewhat presentable, at best. Why waste time on being overly presentable when your intention is not to be scrutinized, but demoralized?

My tie was a little loose and I decided this was alright. I ran my hands through my uncombed hair a couple times and topped it off with my smoky gray hat; my best hat – my only hat. Buttoning my jacket, I stepped over my trench coat and out of my apartment. As I passed the corridor on the second floor, I heard a door open.

"Heya, Harry," Neville whispered, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth as he stepped into the hallway. His suspenders were hanging loosely from the edge of his trousers, his shirt untucked and open revealing lipstick smudges on the collar of his undershirt. "Heading out this late?"

"Yeah," I replied and left it at that. "Where are you going?"

"Fresh air," was his answer and he followed me down the stairs and outside. Neville leaned against the brick of the entryway and waved as I started down the street. "See you, Harry."

I made it to the office sooner than I had expected and sat down at my desk, trying to think about something other than why I had agreed to this meeting.

My mind wandered to the incident on the strip earlier between Draco and Seamus and I wondered how Lucius dealt with Finnegan. I was sure I'd hear about it soon enough. I looked at the clock again, and listened for footsteps on the stairs. When I didn't hear anything, I frowned, remembering Ginny always being prompt, and started to worry that maybe she wasn't going to show up.

I began to spin in my chair, hoping to look casual, maybe even bored, if and when she came in. Dizziness had overtaken me when a hand on my shoulder stopped me. Focusing was a chore, but eventually the three Ginnies I was seeing melted into one.

"Waiting long, I hope?" she said.

I quirked an eyebrow and stood up.

"Hello to you, too … Ginger."

She frowned at me and put her hands on her hips.

"I guess you did see him, then. Did you talk to him, or did you just spy on him like you always do?"

"What do you mean, 'like I always do'?" I inquired incredulously.

"Running about, ducking in alleys and under windows, peeking around corners with only your eyes visible between your hat and your upturned collar," the red-head stated, flatly.

I hated her sometimes.

"Yes, but I'm a private dick; that's what we do."

"You got dick right."

I really hated her sometimes.

"Was I supposed to talk to him?"

"Seeing as you are on speaking terms with his father, I thought maybe you had some catching up to do."

"I'm not on speaking terms with Lucius Malfoy."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you just like his whores."

I smiled a little and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"What is that for?" she asked.

"You're jealous," I grinned, reaching for her.

"I'm not, really," she lied, spinning away from me.

"But you are."

Ginny thought for a moment.

"Why his whores?"

It was my turn to think.

"He owns the only house of ill-repute in the city?" I tried.

"Surely, there are other women. What about Luna? She'd sleep with you."

"Neville loves her and Neville is a good kid."

She scoffed, "Suddenly, love means something to you?"

Again, I hated her.

"It was one girl, Ginny. Just one. I had just met her, but she's with Ron now, anyway, so it's not like I was going to keep her."

"It was HERMIONE?!"

Now, I hated myself.

"No?"

Ginny was fuming and I took the time to tighten my tie seeing as this wasn't going at all the way I had hoped.

"I can't believe you had that woman in the apartment when I wasn't there. You're incorrigible," she spat, beginning to pace the office. I sighed in defeat and let her yell at me for awhile whilst I spun in my chair.

I soon found myself being stopped and shaken.

"Are you even listening to me?"

My hat fell off.

"Stop shaking me, and yes."

She let go of my shoulders and I reached for my hat.

"What did I just say, then?"

"That I'm the most irresistible man you've ever met and you want to jump me on your brother's desk," I told her, dusting off the brim of my hat and looking up into her shocked face. Placing my hat on my head, I tapped the top with a smile.

"I never said anything about Ron's desk."

"Might as well. He seems to like it up there. You want to jump me now, or later?" I asked, standing up and loosening my tie.

"I won't have you on that desk."

I walked around her and sat on the desk in question.

"But I'm already on the desk. All you have to do is 'have me'."

"No, I won't."

"But you will."

"There are things on that desk that look important …"

I pushed everything off the desk and looked at her inquisitively.

"I don't see anything on this desk. Oh, except … me."

I took my hat off and tossed it across the room.

"Honestly, Harry …" she started, but stopped when I reclined with my hands folded behind my head, one knee bent and started whistling.

"Waiting to be had … Waiting to be had …" I mumbled slowly, smirking to myself, my other leg draped over the side of the desk, swinging casually.

"You really think you're something, don't you?"

I grinned when I saw her approach the desk and look down at me. She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips as she removed my tie.

"I'm engaged, you know."

"Like it matters …" I began, but then something Draco had said earlier played in my mind. Propping my head up in my hand, I furrowed my brow. "You just came from Malfoy's, didn't you."

"Yeah. So?"

I thought for a moment and shrugged with a smile, "Just making sure."

Her left hand played with the buttons on my shirt and she asked, "Do you want me to take the ring off?"

"Doesn't bother me."

"Nothing ever does."



I woke up when Ron and Hermione came in after the sun had risen, with my hat over my eyes, stretched out on the couch in the back room.

"What the hell happened to my desk?" Ron shouted and I heard paper shuffling. I smiled proudly under my hat and Hermione came into the room.

"Harry?" she said.

"Harry's here?" Ron asked as he, too, entered the room.

I made no move to acknowledge their presence.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, lifting my hat. I was grinning like a fool.

"What happened out there …" Ron's eyes got wide and he pointed at me. "You! I can't believe you!"

Hermione frowned and looked from her husband to myself and back again, confused.

I couldn't stop smiling.

"I have to work on that desk, you know."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione groaned in understanding.

Ron looked back to his desk and made a face before moving my feet off the couch, sitting down next to me. My trench coat fell off me, slumping to the floor as I sat up straight and I kicked it away, unsure how it got to the office.

He nudged me with a small smile, "Told you."

My smile quickly faded. That was, until I remembered who I'd spent my evening with and I smirked, nudging him back.

"Oh, yeah. Great stuff."

Hermione rolled her eyes and dropped my hat, stalking out of the room. I stood and bent to pick up my beloved gray fedora and found Ron pointing at me again, only this time to a spot on my chest.

"Looks like you had a grand time," he commented and I looked down to find my shirt open and a raspberry coloured mark on my sternum.

Vividly, I remembered receiving that mark and the others, but Ron would never see them.

"Grand doesn't even begin to describe my evening."

"You dog," Ron smiled slyly. "Who is she? Have I met her?"

I shook my head.

"Probably not," I lied and walked to my desk, buttoning my shirt. Hermione was on her knees, picking up Ron's things and he came to help her.

"I should make you do this," she said, glancing up at me briefly.

"Lookit, baby," Ron muttered, reaching for something I couldn't see. He came back dangling a silk stocking. My breath caught in my throat. I lunged and snatched it from his hand, jamming it into my pocket. Ron seemed to find this quite humorous and was laughing so loud, I barely heard the knock on the door. I had tucked in only half of my shirt before I greeted our guest.

"Hey, ba …" She cast me a stern look. "… Ginny."

Ron was still laughing and barely took notice that there was someone at the door. Ginny peeked over my shoulder a little but moved back before anyone else saw her. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the hallway. I held the door closed behind my back, safeguarding against a surprise from my coworkers.

"I didn't make it home with all of my belongings," she whispered urgently.

"Oh, yeah. Here." I pulled the stocking out of my pocket and she seized it, putting it into her handbag. I leaned in to kiss her when she turned back to me, but she pushed me away.

"That's not all."

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"What else? You were dressed when you left here," I reminded her.

"I was wearing a necklace last night that Ron gave me for my birthday last year."

I nodded and smiled, recalling taking it off and dropping it …

"Damn," I breathed and my mind went into panic.

"Do you know where it is?" she asked, smiling a little in relief.

"Yeah, but …"

"HARRY!" Ron bellowed from inside the office.

"Uh-oh," I muttered, gripping the doorknob tighter. "Go downstairs. No. Go across the street. There's a little café there …"

"I used to live here, Harry. I know about the café."

"POTTER!"

"Just go. I'll meet you there as soon as I can get away."

She smiled and kissed my cheek.

"Don't get yourself killed, Potter. I just got into town."

Ginny disappeared down the stairwell and I slipped back into the office, putting on my best innocent face.

"Did somebody call for me?" I asked, tucking in the other half of my shirt and looking around for my tie.

"You rat," Ron spat, stomping toward me.

I stole a glance around the room, looking for Ron's coffee mug, but didn't see it.

"What's this mean?" my partner wanted to know, jabbing a piece of paper at my face.

I exhaled slowly, taking the piece of paper and reading it: 'Draco Strip at 9 PM'.

"Not what you're thinking," I laughed, spying the coffee cup off to one side of the few papers still littering the floor. Hermione hadn't noticed it yet.

Ron made a disgusted face.

"I was thinking you got a job and didn't tell me."

"Oh, you're right about that; sorry."

I shrugged passed him, trying my best to make in indiscreet grab for the mug, but Hermione clamped her hand over the top, not seeing me, and stood up.

"Who tipped you off? Did you go? What happened?"

"We'll be hearing from Seamus today, probably," I answered, eyeing the mug as Hermione set it on Ron's desk.

"There's your mug, honey," she said absently, returning to her desk.

"Oh, thanks, Mione," Ron muttered, hooking the handle of the mug and letting it dangle loosely. I caught the glint of rubies and rubbed the back of my neck nervously. "So Draco's behind the flobberworm phone calls?" Ron slouched against his desk and used the mug to tip his hat back a little.

"I don't think so."

"Who is, do you think?"

Ron set the mug on his desk beside him.

"I don't know," I replied, stealing the mug and holding it to my chest, sighing happily that it was now in my hands.

"What's the big idea?"

"Want some coffee, pal? Was just going to go get some."

"Sure, Harry, thanks," Ron told me, smiling and turning away. I dumped the necklace into my palm and pocketed it before Ron looked up at me from his chair.

"You don't need my mug if you're going across the street."

I nodded, handing the cup back to my friend and asked Hermione if she wanted something while I was gone. She asked for coffee (two sugars and cream) and a danish.

"I don't know any Danish. What about the Russian on the corner? He's pleasant enough."

Ron chuckled at my attempt as he straightened a stack of paper, but Hermione didn't even look up with a smile.

"Cream cheese, Potter. No exceptions."

"There was a time when it was me who told you what to do," I said under my breath as I opened the door. "You seemed to enjoy it that way."

She looked at Ron with a smirk before shifting her gaze to look up at me.

"Ron's much better at that than you ever were."

I looked over my shoulder at the other man. It was obvious he was trying to look as though he wasn't listening, but he was grinning and I rolled my eyes, leaving.

Upon entering Deano's Deli, I spotted my old flame chatting happily with the owner.

"Oi, boy-o," Dean greeted when he saw me approaching the counter.

"Hey, Dean."

"Deano!" someone shouted and I saw Dean sigh defeatedly. Turning, I found Fat Man from the Forge at one of the tables, looking quite chipper, this morning.

"Excuse me," the counterman said, walking away. Ginny smiled at me and pulled me to our old table.

"Did you get it?" she asked quietly, taking my hand over the table. I took the necklace from my pocket and handed it to her. "Oh, thank God. I thought you were done for."

I raised my eyebrows with a small smile.

"Concerned for my welfare? Strange new development."

"If Ron killed you, who would I sleep with when Draco's not around?"

"I'm sure you could find somebody. Neville?" I suggested.

"I could, but Luna likes him."

"Luna likes me, too."

"Sure, she does," Ginny sarcastically agreed.

I frowned but left it.

"I thought Ron wanted you and I back together," I commented, leaning back in the booth a little. "Why were you so scared about him finding the necklace?"

"You know Ron."

I nodded.

"His brotherly streak will come to light, again. He didn't get to beat up Draco, you know."

"Well, then maybe he'll beat him up this time instead of me."

"No. You're closer. He'd know when to stop before killing you, too. Ron's protective, but he doesn't need more jail time."

Again, I nodded. Dean came over and placed a black coffee in front of me and a chocolate milk in front of Ginny. She took a sip and sighed happily.

"What?" I inquired, intertwining our fingers.

"Rich chocolaty Ovaltine," she murmured, taking another drink.

I furrowed my brow.

"Draco won't let it in the house. Competitor's product."

"But it's muggle!" I laughed and she let go of my hand which made me stop.

"He bottles bubbly pop, not chocolate milk."

"I can't really say anything about it," she explained, retaking my hand. I smiled involuntarily and Dean came back, setting down scrambled eggs and sausage for me, bacon and eggs over easy for Ginny.

"We didn't order anything," I told him.

"It's your usual. I just thought …"

"It great, Deano, thanks," Ginny said, smiling at him, and kicking me under the table. Dean returned the smile and went back to his counter.

"You didn't have to kick me," I grumbled, massaging my shin. "Why can't you say anything?"

"Sorry, but don't ask questions. Just eat your breakfast," she whispered with a quick glance out the window, releasing my hand and starting on her breakfast. I peered out the window but didn't see anything.

"What's going on?"

"Eat. Who did Draco meet last night?"

I took a bite of sausage and said, "He met with his dad and then his men brought Finnegan."

"Does Seamus still have his big toes?" she asked seriously, making a pained face.

"Just barely," I mumbled through a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

"Don't talk with your mouth full. So he talked to Draco, then?"

I swallowed this time, before speaking.

"No, not really. Let me ask you this: have you heard anything about flobberworms?"

She made a face at me and shook her head.

"Hmm …"

"Damn," she mumbled, gulping down her Ovaltine and sliding out of the booth.

"What?" I asked, standing.

"Draco," was her answer as she exited the café and I looked out the window and watched her cross the street with her arms out which she wrapped around her fiancé as he stepped away from Serpensmordre. I shook my head and walked to the counter and leaned casually on it.

"I need two coffees; one black, the other with two sugars and cream."

Dean went to fill my order and I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ginny and Draco walking up the street, arm in arm. She glanced back toward Deano's for a brief moment and I smiled to myself.

"Anything else, Harry?"

"No. Thanks, Dean." I paid and started for the door. "Oh, wait. I need a cream cheese danish."

I gave him more of my money and took the danish. Just as I'd stepped outside, Dean stopped me.

"You forgot this," he said and handed me my trench coat.