"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy, no one said it would be this hard. Oh take me back to the start"

The Scientist, Coldplay -

Chapter 8.

She met Pansy in the foyer of the Ministry and signed in quickly handing over her wand. They quickly made their way to the third level where the department was and went to the reception area.

"We're here to see Dean Thomas" she explained to the witch there.

"Do you have an appointment? Mr Thomas is a very busy man" she replied.

"No we don't but if you tell him that Virginia Zabini is here to see him, he'll see me" she replied back quickly.

"Zabini?" the witch questioned narrowing her eyes at Virginia.

"That's right now please-" but Virginia was cut off when someone put a hand on her shoulder and spoke from behind her.

"Tell Mr Thomas that Harry Potter is here to see him"

"Of course Mr Potter, you can go through he's in his office" the witch stuttered out stunned to see Harry Potter in front of her.

Virginia and Pansy turned around to see Harry standing there with Ron behind him.

"Hello Gin, Pansy" he said nodding at them. "Here to see Dean as well?"

"Hi Harry, I'm here with Pansy she needs some permits approved by Dean" Virginia replied clearly ignoring Ron.

"Potter, Weasley" Pansy said coolly in greeting.

The group approached Dean's office and entered after Dean called out. Dean was going through a filing cabinet obviously looking for something.

"Harry, Ron. What brings you by?" he asked curiously greeting them.

"Virginia?" Dean said staring at her in shock. A bright smile lit up her face as she rushed forward and hugged Dean tightly. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her in return, spinning her around as he did so.

"Hello Dean" she said grinning up at him.

"I don't believe it. Look at you Gin. What are you doing here? When did you get back? Seamus didn't mention anything about it. Are you staying in London for long?" he asked quickly.

Laughing she reached out and patted his arm. "Slow down Dean"

Just looking at her he grinned. "You look beautiful. How are the twins?" he began.

"Josh and Grace are fine. Growing up to fast for my liking. I'm opening a store in Diagon Alley so I'm around for a while. It's my fault, I haven't spoken to Seamus since Shelley was born. How is she going by the way?" she asked referring to the baby that Lavender had had last month.

"They're doing great" he told her.

"Pansy Malfoy it's been a while" Dean said noticing her for the first time.

"Hello Dean" she replied coolly.

"What brings you by?" he asked curiously.

"It's about the Malfoy's New Year's Eve anniversary party. Because of the international guests we need these permits signed for the extra security" Virginia told him.

Looking at Harry and Ron he smiled at them. "This will only take a sec. Take a seat" he told them.

"Ok Pansy do you have the guest list?" he asked her and she nodded taking it out of her briefcase.

Dean was silent whilst he read through it, his eyebrows rising when he got to the bottom of the list. Handing it back to her he shook his head in disbelief. "That's quite some list. Malfoy never does anything subtly does he?" he asked them.

"Draco wants it to be a big event. Only our best clients and friends are invited" she replied coolly.

"So the Wimbourne Wasps, Chudley Canons, the English, Bulgarian and American Quidditch teams. The Italian and American Minister of Magic are all close friends?" he asked teasing her slightly.

"Malfoy's are a major sponsor of the English and Bulgarian Quidditch Teams. He has friends on both the Wasps and the Cannons teams. The American Minister of Magic has been buying jewellery from Malfoy's since we opened and the Italian Minister of Magic is a friend of the family" she replied.

Sitting down at his desk he nodded his head. "Ok do you have the permits with you?" he asked her.

Smiling she gave them to him and squeezed Virginia's hand when he signed them.

"Tell Malfoy to owl me the security patrols and the final guest list when it's finalised" he said to her as he handed back the permits.

"Thanks you Dean" Pansy said genuinely.

Turning to Virginia she hugged her whispering a quiet thankyou in her ear. "I've got to go to Hogsmeade to organise catering will you be okay here?" she asked her looking over her shoulder at Ron.

"Fine. I want to catch up with Dean for a little before I pick up the kids from Rohan's. I'll owl you tonight ok?" she said hugging her back.

Pansy nodded and turned to leave the room. "Oh Dean, your and Parvati's invitation will be sent out tonight with the rest of them" she said before leaving them.

"Take a seat Gin whilst I finish with these two" he said pointing to Ron and Harry.

She sat in the chair that Harry had vacated for her and smiled at him.

"So what's up fellas?" Dean asked staring at two of his best friends.

"It's about the World Quidditch Awards" Ron said glancing at Virginia out of the corner of his eye.

"What about it? I thought that everything was pretty much settled from you end?" Dean asked him curiously.

"It is. Or rather it was. The Australian team is making a bit of a fuss about it all. They're Keeper was injured pretty badly when they played England last month and they are refusing to come now" Ron told him.

"Stubborn Australians. They've got a bloody good team though" Harry said good-natured.

Virginia snorted and cause all three men to look at her. "Is Leigh Mitchell still playing chaser for the Kangaroos?" she asked curiously, referring to the Australian tem by their nickname.

"Yeah he took a year off but he's been back for about 8 months. Why?" Harry asked her.

"I know Leigh" she explained simply.

Ron looked at her shocked. "You know Leigh Mitchell?" he asked her forgetting about their animosity for a second.

"Of course I know him, I lived with his twin brother in Australia for a year" she said coolly.

Dean looked impressed. "From what I've heard you have friends in high places Gin. I had Marco Venier asking about you yesterday" he grinned at her.

Virginia laughed and a cheeky smile came over her face, reminiscent of those of Fred and George. "Well he has asked me to marry him on more than one occasion" she laughed enjoying the shocked looks on their faces.

"Marco Venier? He's the Italian Minister of Magic!" Harry exclaimed.

"I know. Gabrielle Delacour is engaged to his brother Sebastian" she told them. "Look I can sort out the Australian Quidditch Team for you. They'll be at the awards, they're on January 20th right?" she continued.

"How'd you know that? Only the teams know?" Ron asked her.

"I've been invited" Virginia replied studying her fingernails closely. "Can I use your fireplace Dean?" she continued quickly getting up from her seat and walking to the fireplace on the other side of the room.

"Sure. But I don't think you'll be able to reach them in Australia, they're 14 hours in front of us remember? It'll be one in the morning there" Dean told her.

"Yeah but it's a Saturday night. He'll be awake" she said confidently. Virginia stuck her head in the fire and clearly said "Leigh Mitchell"

A second later a head could be seen in the fire looking at Virginia appreciatively. "Hello love, how can I help you?" he asked cheerfully if not a little drunk. "I'm looking for Leigh Mitchell" she replied grinning at him.

The head disappeared and Dean, Harry and Ron were exchanging looks clearly impressed.

"Leigh there's a gorgeous red head in the fireplace asking for you" they could hear and Virginia laughed as Leigh's surprised head suddenly appeared and looked at them surprised.

"Virginia Zabini look at you" he said happily.

"Hello Leigh. How are you?" she asked him interested.

"Good love. Good and you? How are those twins of yours?" he replied.

"Great. How's your brother?"

"He's engaged actually"

"No!" she asked surprised. "The great Adam Mitchell settling down. Never! What about you?"

"There's never been anyone for me but you love. You know that!" he winked cheekily at her. "Now I can see this isn't a social call by the looks I'm getting from those mates behind you" he said whilst she was still laughing at him.

"Your right. It's about the Quidditch Awards. You are coming Leigh and you'll bring the entire team with you. You've got a table reserved and what would it look like if the Aussie's weren't there to pick up their awards?" she told him.

"Oh come on Gin Gin. You know it's not like that. It's just that after the accident last month" he began but she cut him off.

"You tell your keeper to stop being a chicken because I expect you all at the awards. I expect you to save me a dance Leigh Mitchell and tell your brother the same goes for him" she teased him.

"I'll save all my dances for you love" she grinned cheekily at her. "Seriously though I'll see what I can do"

"I expect you all there. Owl Dean Thomas at the Ministry of Magic in Britain when you can confirm it" she replied.

Shaking his head at her he pushed himself forward and kissed her cheek. "The things I do for you Virginia Zabini" he said before disappearing altogether. **

That evening it was just her and the kids. Cassandra having gone to stay with Narcissa for the night. She went into Grace's room first and found her playing with one of the dolls on her bed.

"Hi Princess all ready for bed?" she asked as she gently sat down at her side.

Grace nodded and gazed up at her mother happily. A look of uncertainty came over her face, which Virginia noticed straight away.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she smoothed her curls away from her face.

"Are we staying here in England?" she asked innocently.

"Do you want to?" Virginia replied.

Nodding her head she smiled at her mother. "I like it here with grandma and everyone else" she said as she snuggled down into the sheets.

"Well you know that I've got the store to open before Christmas and I've got to look at getting you and Josh into school here as well. So I think we will stay for a while"

"Are you sad here?" Grace asked innocently.

"Sad? Oh no hunny. I feel close to your Daddy here. This is my home here in England. I can never be sad when I have you and Josh with me. Now it's time to sleep" she said as she kissed her daughter on the nose and pulled the sheets up around her.

"Love you mummy" Grace said tiredly as Virginia turned off the lights.

"I love you to princess".

Virginia smiled to herself and quickly walked to Josh's room next door. Opening his door she saw him closely looking at a Quidditch picture book. She sat down next to him and smiled when he snuggled up next to her. "I'm gonna be the best chaser on the Slytherin team. Just like Daddy was" he told her.

Looking down at her son who was the spitting image of his father she gently took the book off him and placed it on the bedside table.

"I'm sure you will be Josh. I'll be there to watch every game with you in it" she told him.

"Every game? Even when it's raining?" he asked her.

"Yep even when it's raining" she said as she kissed him on the forehead.

Josh gazed up at his mother adoringly and tugged on a strand of her red hair that had come loose from the plait she had it in.

"I love you Josh. Goodnight" she said quietly as she turned off the lights for the second time.

"I love you Mum" he replied.

Satisfied that both her children were tucked in properly she quietly entered Blaise's room and muttered a "Lumos" and candles in the room sprung to life. She walked over to his desk and sat down in the chair that as a teenager she had spent so much time in. She opened the third drawer in the desk and pulled out a wooden box with a brass lock on it that had been sitting there for seven years. There was a rose carved on the front of the box and she found herself running her fingers over the engraved area, losing herself in the memory of the day when Blaise had given her this box.

**

It was the first day back at Hogwarts after Christmas break. She hadn't heard from any of the Weasley's since they had kicked her out of home with the exception of Percy. He had owled her twice to see how she was and she had responded the same way twice.

"I will never return to the Burrow. I'm staying with friends and am fine. I love you"

Short, simply and straight to the point. She knew it hurt Percy not knowing where she was but she wasn't ready to see any of them. Cassandra Zabini had flooed Professor Snape after she had arrived at the Zabini Estate who had come immediately with Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore. After being checked over by the nurse Dumbledore has asked for a moment alone with her.

She found herself looking at him closely. He looked older to her, more tired.

"Virginia I had an owl from Harry and your brother Percy telling me what happened. I must admit that I feel somewhat responsible for what has happened. You have kept secrets for me about Mr Malfoy and Miss Parkinson and I know they have come to trust you and care for you immensely. After Sirius died I promised myself that I wouldn't keep things from Harry anymore. I should have learnt from my mistakes but I haven't. I have kept you out of the Order whilst the rest of your family was involved. It was selfish reasons on my behalf, I was wanting to spare you any more pain after the Chamber of Secrets but I can now see that it hasn't done you that. I have tried to speak to your family but I fear it is to early for them to see reason" he told her.

"Don't bother" she said tiredly.

She had heard from Professor Snape after that and now almost two weeks later she found herself standing at Platform 9 ¾ with Blaise and his older siblings Sarah and Rohan. All the Zabini's had taken an immense liking to Virginia. They saw her for how much she loved Blaise and how much he loved and adored her. They had been terribly upset to hear about what had happened to her at the Burrow and were here to make sure that she git onto the train with Blaise okay.

A loud commotion behind them caused them to stop and stare as the Weasley's appeared; the twins, Percy, Ron, Harry, Hermionie all being escorted by Mundungus and Tonks. Percy was the first one to notice her and quickly abandoned the others and walked over to her. Rohan Zabini stepped in front of her and casually held his wand in his hand.

"Something you want Weasley?" he asked him.

Percy stopped surprised and narrowed his eyes in recognition at Rohan. He noticed that Bill and Charlie had apparated in and were standing next to him.

"Zabini" Charlie said coldly to Rohan remembering the competitiveness between the two of them from their school days.

Virginia gently pushed Rohan aside and stood up tall next to him. "It's fine" she said as she gently rested her had on his reassuring him.

Rohan smiled down at the girl who was already like a sister to him and she returned the smile, albeit a little shakily.

She turned back to the three Weasley's standing there and focused her attention solely on Percy. She pulled a letter out of her pocket and gave it to him. "Thankyou for your owls. Read that when your alone" she said to him quietly and gently gave his hand a squeeze before stepping backwards to the safety of being surrounded by the Zabini's.

"Well what do we have here? More Weasley's?" a cold voice sneered and everyone turned to look where it had come from.

Lucius Malfoy stood tall and arrogantly proud slightly behind him was Draco and Pansy.

"When did you get out of Azkaban?" Harry asked as he stepped forward, Tonks stood behind him her wand raised.

"Ah Potter, you're still alive. Pity. I was found to be acting under the imperious curse and have had all charges dropped against me" he smirked at them all.

Virginia found herself looking at Draco who was clutching his side and looking rather uncomfortable. Shaking her head in disgust she pulled her wand out of her pocket and pushed past Rohan and Percy, Bill and Charlie before they knew what she was doing. She stalked up to Lucius ignoring the looks she was getting from Draco and Pansy or the cursed whispers she was getting from Blaise, Sarah and Rohan. Pulling out her wand she had it at his throat before he had time to respond.

"Little Ginny Weasley. Been writing in any more diaries lately?" he drawled.

Rolling her eyes she smirked right back at him. "That's old news Mr Malfoy, can't you think of anything better?" she said coldly.

Raising an eyebrow at her he replied. "I don't need to think of anything better. I am better"

She laughed coldly and pushed her wand deeper into his neck. "Listen to me Mr Malfoy. Before this war is over I am going to kill you. For everything you have done to Draco or Mrs Malfoy. For the nightmares you have given me for the past 5 years. For the innocent people you have killed in both wars. Do you understand me?" she hissed venomously but loud enough for those close to them to hear what she was saying.

Lucius was itching to take his wand out but there were to many people around and he knew that she knew that. "Is that a threat Miss Weasley? Nobody threatens a Malfoy!" he spat back.

"It's not Miss Weasley. It's Virginia and no that's not a threat Mr Malfoy. It's a promise" she replied glaring coldly at him