Without You

No I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way
The story goes
You always smile but in your eyes
Your sorrow shows
Yes it shows

No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there
But then I let you go
And now it's only fair
That I should let you know
What you should know

I can't live
If living is without you
I can't live
I can't give any more
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't give
I can't give any more

- Written by W. P. Ham and T. Evans


Luna stumbled down the stairs, lugging a huge cardboard box filled with rubbish from the apartment. Just as she was about to lose her footing for real, she felt two unfamiliar strong arms catch her by her shoulders, breaking her fall.

She looked up, just as Ginny herself came down the stairs. Ginny's eyes widened as she observed the scene before her, from the stop of the stairs. Luna in Harry's arms with a huge cardboard box between the both of them; what caused a smile to tug at one end of her lips was the flushed look on Harry's face as he stared down at Luna.

"Ah-hem." Ginny cleared her throat, in very Umbridge fashion.

Both of their heads shot up towards her.

"Hey, Harry." She greeted, smirking.

The irksome familiarity of that smirk on Ginny's face brought Harry crashing back to reality and he blurted the first coherent thought that came to his mind, "You look like Malfoy."

Ginny went red, pressing her lips together in a thin line of bemusement. Luna laughed at his comment, looking up at her friend who was of a lovely crimson shade of red.

"What brings you here, Harry?" Ginny asked, composing herself.

"Oh..em..eh..Your mother said you needed some help." He muttered, avoiding Ginny's eyes. She shrugged, not wanting to torture him any further. Luna, seemingly oblivious made her way down the stairs.

"Hey, Lu, Zeus will off for a while. So you won't be able to send anything for some time." Luna nodded.

As Ginny stepped into the apartment, Harry followed her, settling himself into one of the couches.

"I thought you came over to help?" Ginny arched an eyebrow at him questioningly.

Before he could even answer, Ginny walked towards the kitchen to send Zeus off to Draco with her letter for him.

Dear Draco,

I hope you are well. How is Sri Lanka? Is it as beautiful as you say it is? Keep me updated about your mother. All's well here. Luna and I have moved into our apartment. We've been spending the past few days cleaning it out and moving our things in. I rather like this apartment – it's small and quaint. Just what we need.

I will be starting work at the International Prophet soon. Am rather looking forward to it. Speaking of Luna, I think Harry seems to be rather besotted with her. It is quite amusing really for Luna seems absolutely blind to this and I'd think she would rather much deny it. She abhors Harry, not like the way you do though.

And anyway, she is rather taken up with the fact that her American pen pal has not written back to her in a long while. I think she is secretly infatuated with him. She stopped letting me read her letters to him sometime ago. I presume that was when they started getting more intimate. Yes, Draco, laugh at me if you will. I am so bored here without you that I have taken to immersing myself into my best friend's love life.

Harry says I look like you nowadays since I have been smirking a lot recently. Imagine that?Are you sprouting red hair, dearest?

Have got to go. Mother will be dropping by with some home cooked food. Nothing beats her cooking. Wish you could try her home baked double chocolate cookies. You'll love it, perhaps more than I love you.

Love Virginia


Ginny padded down the hallway to the kitchen, early the next day. The sight of Zeus at the counter, clicking his beak impatiently caused her heart to soar. She tore open the letter after retrieving it from the owl and read it.

Dear Virginia,

No red hair that I can see. Even asked Paulo to check for me. He is here with me on a vacation with his family. You should meet his wife and daughter. They are adorable. All three of them look entirely perfect together. It must be nice to have a family like that. I think you look adorable when you smirk, which means I look adorable as well.

I always knew Luna had some sense. Who needs Potter anyway? I thought you told me he had a girlfriend of some sort and that Creevey had something for Luna. Must you work? Can't you stay at home so that I can come visit you anytime I wanted and make love to you all day, all night?

Anything chocolate sounds excellent to me. You and chocolate together – imagine the ideas. We will just have to try that out when I get back, no?

Sri Lanka is the most beautiful place in the world. We should get married here. The beaches are so white, the water so clear. Mother is far from recovery but the healer here seems to think that there is hope for her. Am never good with words so will end here and let my little gift attached speak for itself.

Till the next time

Yours

Draco.

Ginny looked around for the said gift only to have Zeus hop aside and reveal the most beautiful bouquet of a dozen white roses. She gasped, as did Luna who had walked in then.

It was only much later that day that Ginny finally managed to sit down and began her reply to his letter. She gazed appreciatively at the roses placed quaintly in slender porcelain vase that belonged to Luna, which sat on the varnished coffee table in the living room.

Harry's red roses mingled elegantly with Draco's white ones. As Colin had put it when he had first walked into the apartment, those were a rich man's gift. Colin, however, at the moment was sprawled all over the couch, exhausted from tryouts at various quidditch teams.

He had decided to drop by and check in on his best friends, and also sojourn off with some food since his mother was out of town and he could not cook for his life. The latest revelations about Harry's growing attachment to their new apartment or simply put Luna herself did not unseat him as much as Ginny has expected.

Luna was seated beside Ginny, trying to read the letter she was penning over her shoulder. Ginny simply ignored her.

Dear Draco,

Anyone ever tell you what a dirty minded pervert you are? Well, I am and I love you for it. After receiving your last letter, Luna wanted to know why I was blushing and giggling so much. I dare say, precious, you have the most fantastic ideas. Will await your return with a tub of chocolate sauce.

You possibly have the biggest ego in the world. Oh no, according to dearest Luna who is reading over my shoulder that award goes to Harry. I think the whole thing with her and Harry is rather sweet. I imagine you do not. She thinks he is an arrogant prick in disguise and he fancies her to bits.

He even got roses for her. Said it was for our new home but gave it to her. Red ones though. Unlike the beautiful white Sri Lankan ones you sent me with your letter. I love them. Am going to dry them and preserve their scent.

Colin seems to be a lot more distanced from Luna than during Hogwarts. He seems to confide in me more than in her. This change did not come after Harry's recent behavior. In fact he seems rather unaffected by the notion of Harry and Luna together.

Draco, we will have that family soon if it is the last thing I do. I recommend raising puppies in the mean time for it might take one or two centuries for my family to approve of our union.

We both knew, when you proposed and I accepted, that marriage would be a long while away with my career and yours, your mother, my family. It was more of a promise to each other, to be together forever. Perhaps I am wrong in this interpretation. Whatever it maybe, I want you to know that I am yours, always.

Love

Virginia


Breathless anxiety weaved through her as she sat up with a jolt at the sudden swish of wings as Zeus landed on her bed. She blinked, still sleepy from her first late night at work. It was a good thing she only had to be back at the office at ten in the morning. This time his letter came bearing no gift.

Dearest Virginia,

I would very much like to disagree with you for it would be better than good to be able to marry you this very moment, and for us to live together forever and ever, happily ever after akin to those fairytales that we read and hear often enough about but I can do none of that. I have to agree with you.

Though I have a question, if we are not willing to face the consequences of our relationship, when will we ever do it? Is it not easier now than later, when things perhaps get more complicated? It is your decision altogether, though.

Luna's and Potter's budding romance is very reminiscent of our own. I must say it is nice for a change to see Potter not having his way easy just because he is The Man who killed Voldermort. Perhaps Creevey is ensconced with another girl as well.

When I return, we are going to spend the weekend at The Malfoy Cabin, up in The Estate. That is an order, so I suggest you free up your busy schedule. Do not forget the chocolate sauce.

As beautiful as this place is, I am weary of shuttling back and forth the hotel and the hospital with mother making no visible progress. The healer advises leaving her there for a considerable amount of time and returning to Britain. I could never do that though. If anything were to happen to her, I would never be able to live with myself.

Besides, I have managed to engage several worthy business contracts here. It seems that flying carpets are more in use here than broomsticks. With the impending ban of flying carpets due to the recent death of the Minister Of Magic's daughter when she got struck by lightning while traveling on one, broomsticks are going to be in demand. They are also especially interested in flying cars as well.

I have been to several meeting and discussions. Hopefully, before I leave I can sign a deal. In order to do so, I need a company to sign it under. I have been thinking of starting up a new one but am at loss as to how to name it. I thought you might have some ideas. I might even put this company under both of our names so that it will be a co-ownership.

I have so many plans for us together, Virginia, so many ideas. It jus worries me that you might not wholeheartedly be into this, us being together because of your reluctance to come out in the open about us. It is not as if it will be easy for me either.

Yours truly,

Draco

All the emotions that ran through her as she read his words – wistfulness, pride, love, honour, fear – propelled her out of bed, to her desk to answer his letter and all his surprisingly astute questions. Sleepiness and bleary vision long gone, she conjured up a mug of hot cappuccino and began her reply.

Dear Draco,

I sense this is going to be a major point of contention between the both of us. Telling my parents and family is a huge step and once we cross that line, there is no return. I would rather take my time to get to know you as a lover (For most of the while in Hogwarts, we were merely friends, then maybe something more but not two people utterly serious about each other until the end) before I make that big step.

Do not be mistaken. I would want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. I mean, I accepted your proposal and wear that ring close to my heart. But I am often seized with doubt – what if this feeling does not last? We have moved so fast, perhaps a tad too fast and maybe taking it slow now would do us some good – just to enjoy each other and learn more about each other as possible life partners and test the limits and strengths of this relationship – find out if this passion, lust, longing and love will last.

I do love you, Draco with all my heart but I also fear that like everything else that I have known, this love will fade away. I have faith and hope that it will not but the pragmatic and more practical side of me always wins out.

Merlin, I could leave everything and just run away with you if I followed my heart. That is how much I feel for you but I also love my family and that is one love that has been there for a longer time than ours, and I am not yet willing to sacrifice one for the other. As selfish as this sounds, I do not want to make any drastic moves just as yet. Let's just let it be, for now at least.

I dare say that I am honored to be partners in business with you and that you are willing to discuss your business plans with me. I would advise you to carry your family name. As much as Malfoys are associated with dark arts, it still has a certain authority and power to its name, so I suggest you use that to your advantage. How about 'Malfoy Enterprises' or 'Malfoy Creatiions' so that you can expand your company businesses into other areas beyond brooms and flying cars later, when necessary?

A weekend alone sounds just great. Besides, it would give Harry the chance to catch Luna alone and profess his undying love for her. I swear, you should see the way he looks at her. I wonder when this came about though. Harry never had it easy, love. He went through his own share of pain, grief and anguish.

I must say, you might just be right about Colin. He is busy most nights as well. As much as I miss you, I would rather you stay there with your mother and be with her. She may not know you are there but I know that it will be good for you to be there for her.

Love

Your Dearest

Virginia


"I'm thinking that it's three." Suzie muttered, staring thoughtfully at the bottle that Trevor was holding. Ginny yawned loudly, grinning at her colleagues who were whiling away their time playing some random brainless game.

They were all in Suzie's office, the largest of their three offices, enjoying their lunch break to the fullest. Suzie and herself worked in the current affairs department, while Trevor, Suzie's friend from school, was a photographer. They had bonded instantly – both Ginny and Trevor being new to the International Prophet and stuck together most of the time.

"Did you hear?" Trevor's friend from the fashion department, Cristopher announced as he walked in.

Suzie immediately sat a little straighter, crossing her legs – a sudden picture of elegance compared to the glassy eyed, slouching person she was a few minutes ago.

Now, Ginny had to admit that Cris was good looking but he was so good looking that she did not find him the least bit attractive – his looks were too perfect and he was more of a pretty boy than anything else.

Ginny often wondered what exactly his job encompassed for he could often be found strutting around the office, flashing his winsome smile at any susceptible female. He was doing exactly that to Suzie who flashed a coy smile back. Ginny exchanged bemused looks with Trevor.

"Hear what?" Trevor asked, throwing the bottle into the bin.

"This." Cris murmured, tearing his eyes off Suzie and tossing the Daily Prophet onto her desk. Allfour of them crowded around it.

On the front page, at the slim column on the right hand side was a grainy picture of Draco under the headlines 'FF SEEKER – NOT MALFOY'. Ginny's breath caught in her throat and she felt her mouth go dry at the mere thought of how disappointed Draco would be.

She could not bring herself to read the rest of the article. Draco loved quidditch as much as Harry did and not being part of the game would indefinitely hurt him. She sank back into her seat stunned by the news.

"You okay, Ginny?" Trevor asked, concerned. She avoided his eyes, nodding. She had to put up a unaffected front.

Forcing a wan smile on her face, she looked up at her curious friends, "Nothing. Just felt a little floozy."

They nodded before going back to their discussion. "It seems he was the most prominent wizard who tried out for the position." Suzie informed them.

"But he can't have been any good then." Cris quipped. Ginny felt her head throbbing. She wished they would stop talking about Draco. She had no idea how he was going to find out. Would she have to tell him?

"Probably not. Flint's son got in though."

"Aren't they knee deep in dark arts?" Trevor asked.

"Yes." Suzie replied, knowledgably

"No wonder FFs took him in then." Chris shook his head, distastefully.

"But isn't Malfoy a deatheater as well?"

"His father was. Don't know about him."

It was at this point Ginny lost all her reserve and stood up abruptly. "I need to go to the washroom." She mumbled, walking briskly out of the room.

In the washroom, down the hallway, she washed her pale face several times before the colour returned to her cheeks. She could almost feel his pain upon finding out. The bright light in his eyes would go out – how could she forget the way that those grey eyes shone with hope and excitement at the prospect of doing something he was passionate about. She would have to be strong for him then. That was all there was to it. She would be his rock.


A/N NOTE

SO SORRY for the delay. I promised this chapter after six hundred reviews but I could not keep my promise because I could not upload this chapter due to a glitch in my internet and also due to a fallout of interest in this story as well as the pressure of exams…so sirs and madams please pardon me….

Hope you enjoyed this chapter although it is mostly an exchange of letters. Draco and Ginny are more into their relationship and they are beginning to deal with real issues in their relationship – that's why the contents of the letters are very crucial.

Next chapter will be a lot more interesting because they take on the same issues in the flesh instead of through letters…brace yourself if you think the happy ending is coming up very SOON..they have a long way to go and I mean a LOOOOONG way.

On a more personal note, now that exams are over and the misery season is drawing to an open beginning with Christmas and rounding off with Valentine's Day next year, I have a few lessons that I have learnt over the past year and want to share with you so that you can tackle this festive season effectively -

1.If you want to snag a guy, act like you DON'T CARE

2.Get a job so that you can get money cos allowances run out faster than water in a desert

3.ONLY date rich guys e.g Draco Malfoy type of wealth

4.Make yourself happy

5.Exercise daily cos it makes you feel happy

6.Do not eat carbos especially if you have an arse the size of two bowling alleys like moi

7.Read tons of great books that changes your life starting with the guide to guys by Greg Behrendt – must have for ALL heterosexual women

SNEAK PEEK

He was, however, frowning very deeply as he sipped at his own glass of wine while Ginny nibbled on her cracker, watching the intense look of concentration on his face.

"Draco, what's wrong?" She asked, a few minutes later, gently touching his arm. He shook his head, looking away. Ginny let out a heavy sigh of exasperation.

REVIEW TILL A THOUSAND….KIDDING! You can if you want to though..Just REVIEW PEOPLE…I can't read your minds and won't know what you're thinking about this chapter till you tell me by REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!