For the next month, Draco walked around in a daze. The moment his brain had finally registered that Ginny was gone for good, it had shut down. Self preservation had to be the reason, because when he dared let his mind wander towards the red head he longed for; suicide began to look better than life without her.
He had managed to talk civilly with Isolde. But it was a week after the scene at the ice cream parlor. That day, he had strode past her after Ginny left, and when she followed asking him what she was to do about her condition, he had replied that she could fall into a vat of boiling oil for all he cared. She had wisely let him walk away, but a week later, showed up at his apartment door and he had let her in. There was after all, a baby to consider. His child.
He had allowed her to move in when she asked. But she was to sleep in the spare bedroom. He had no intentions of ever having relations with this woman again; in fact, it turned his stomach slightly just to look at her. It wasn't that she was unattractive. To the contrary, she was quite the beautiful witch, in a sultry sort of way. But Draco unconsciously related her to losing the love of his life, and he couldn't shake that off.
He came out of his daze the night he ran into Ginny at a ministry ball. It was a reunion of sorts, held for those involved in the final battle against Voldemort. She was standing just next to the punch bowl. Draco gazed at her hungrily, taking in the fact she'd gained a little weight (although it looked good on her) and that she was fairly glowing. She looked more beautiful than he'd ever seen her. Debating with himself for a moment, he approached her.
"Ginny." He said, touching her arm.
She turned, paled a bit when she saw it was he, but then smiled and said, "Hello Draco."
"How are you Gin?" he asked searching for something to say.
"Wonderful, actually. And you?" she asked.
"I-" he was about to tell her how much he missed her, then a tall brown haired man walked up and wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist. Seamus Finnigan.
"Gin, me lass. There you are. Sorry about that. Dean cornered me." He said, looking down at her.
"Quite alright, Seamus. I was just talking with Draco a moment." She said smiling. Draco seethed. She smiled at Finnigan.
"Malfoy!" Seamus said, extending a hand. "Good to see you!"
"Finnigan." Draco ground out through his teeth, taking Seamus' hand. "Good to see you too."
"I heard you in the orchestra last week. Took Mum, you know. Smashing!" Seamus said, as disgustingly friendly as Draco remembered him to be.
"Thank you. We do our best." He replied, his hands curling into fists at his sides as he fought the urge to tell Finnigan to remove his hand from Ginny before he smashed his face in.
"Do you still play the Harmonica? I remember the little one you had in camp…." Seamus mused.
"Yes, I still have it. Although I have very little time to play it these days. Actually Ginny gave me that for Christmas one year." Draco said, watching Ginny look uncomfortable when he recalled how he received the instrument.
Just then, the music began in the ballroom and Ginny took the opportunity to escape a situation she felt was quickly turning awkward. "Seamus, dance with me?"
"Why certainly, my lassie love. " he said, taking her hand. "See you about Malfoy! Don't be a stranger. "
Draco stood very still as he tried to control his ragged breathing. He had thought he was past this ridiculous heartache. He couldn't possibly continue to fall to pieces every time he saw her. Nor could he give in to the urge to pound any bloke she was with.
Draco watched Ginny dancing with Finnigan. She chattered away happily and Finnigan was grinning like an idiot. He ought to be grinning, Draco though. He must know how lucky he is to have gotten a date with her. When Finnigan dipped his head down and kissed Ginny, it was more than Draco could bear. He pivoted on his heel and left the ballroom.
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Ginny had been well aware that Draco was watching her dance with Seamus. She felt his gaze boring into her back. When Seamus had leaned in to kiss her, she had allowed it, even though she knew it would upset him. She felt like it had to be done. The man was going to be the father of someone else's child. He had to let go.
"He's gone love." Seamus said kindly.
"What? Who?" Ginny said, trying to act puzzled.
"Draco. He's gone. I know it was awkward for you Ginny. I understand. I almost feel sorry for the poor fellow. He looked completely miserable when he was talking to us." Said Seamus, watching Draco slam out of the ballroom.
"Don't feel too sorry for him Seamus. He made his own bed. I'm trying to let go and move on. He has to do the same." She said.
"Is that really what you want Gin? To move on? I only ask because, well, I'd like to be the one to help you move on, if you'd let me." Seamus said, his voice questioning.
Ginny searched the laughing blue eyes of the man in front of her. She wondered what he would say if he knew her secret. There was only one way to find out. "I'd like that Seamus. But there's something you need to know, before you decide that…."