Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or To Find You, sung by Jewel

Truth

If I asked you a question,
would you look me in the eye?
Has our love been built on lies?
Well, why I'm asking
You see, time is now
to turn our backs forever
or work this through somehow
-- To Find You, Jewel

"Did you tell her yet?" Blaise shifted nervously side to side as he asked the question he had been asking frequently in the past week. "Are you going to tell her today?"

Draco's brow furrowed. "No." His answer was short, terse, and succinct.

Blaise visibly relaxed. Draco rolled his eyes and reached for his coat.

He headed for the door as he spoke the dreaded words. "I'm going to have to tell her sometime, Zabini."

"It doesn't have to be right now."

"Stop brainwashing me. I got enough of that from my father growing up. I don't need you to do that to me too."

Blaise shut up. True, he didn't want Draco to tell Narcissa and cause her to feel guilty for what she did, but Draco had just mentioned his father, and that was never a good sign. It wouldn't do to start pushing the topic again. Draco was hell bent on having the truth come out. Unlike Blaise, Draco wasn't completely at peace with the past. He wouldn't let it go.

The owl had flown quite a distance, over sea and land, finally reaching her goal. Her wings beat steadily despite its long journey as she searched for the recipient of the letter tied to her leg. She fluttered them as she perched haphazardly on the windowsill, looking for the distinctive red hair while tapping on the glass sharply with her beak. No one responding, and the dark black owl leapt once again in the air. The sky was dark, and growing darker. Clouds gathered as she flew quickly, soaring over the muggle towns toward Diagon Alley.

"Gin, you have one of those introductory things to go to again. Five minutes, alright hon?"

"Sure Alex, be there in a sec. Grace, I'm going to need those papers on the Klitchers. They're ragging me on forever about their son not finding anyone. Serves him right for putting ridiculous things on his form, the prat."

"Here you go, Gin."

"Merlin's beard, we're getting a lot of business today. Thank you Grace."

Ginny rushed through the crowded hallways of Soul Mates.

"Miss Weasley, this man here says – "

"I'm sorry Veronica, can you send him over to Grace? Tell her to take his name down and I'll meet him to sort out whatever happened, okay?"

"Of course. Come along, sir."

The owl swooped through the closing door, accelerating her speed as she finally spotted Ginny. She landed on her shoulder. Ginny stopped.

"Hey girl. How's Ron and Hermione?" The owl nipped affectionately at Ginny's earlobe. She cooed at the beautiful black owl. "Are they ignoring you, huh? Are they making goo goo eyes at each other and none at you, you pretty thing?"

"Stop making goo goo eyes at the owl and hurry that little butt of yours. You're going to be late."

Ginny said as she untied the letter from the owl's foot, "Shut up, Alex. Take her back to my office and give her some owl treats. They're in the front drawer on the right hand side of my desk. I'll just 'hurry my little butt' and go."

She tucked the letter in one of her folders and ran off.

"Mother?" Draco said as he opened the front doors. He walked inside the oddly quiet household. "Mother?" Blaise, who had decided to go with Draco, followed.

Narcissa panicked as Draco rounded the corner to the sitting room. She held up the newspaper to hide the numerous wedding magazines in her lap and tried to look innocent. "Hello, dear," she said, poking her head over the top of the Daily Prophet. "Oh, hello to you too Blaise." Draco looked at his mother oddly. "What is it, darling?"

"Um, mother, you have your newspaper upside down."

Narcissa looked at the paper and saw that it was indeed upside down. She coughed lightly. "Don't be silly dear, I was just reading this advertisement."

"Of course, mother." Draco's tone was unbelieving. Blaise chuckled behind him.

She put the newspaper down, hoping it would cover Wizarding Weddings and the very thick The Ultimate Wizarding Guide to Weddings. "So, how is life?"

"Not bad."

"What of you and Ginny?"

"Ginny and I are fine."

"Is there anything more for you and Ginny in the future?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "I suppose we'll keep dating. We're going steady right now."

"But what of anything, " Narcissa paused, "more important." She leaned forward, crinkling the newspaper. Blaise sensed that Narcissa was going to press something on Draco, so he listened closely, ready to intervene if necessary.

"What do you mean, mother, by more important?"

Narcissa shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing much." She tried to smile.

Blaise's suspicions were confirmed when a corner of the Daily Prophet lifted and he saw a white flash that could only be a wedding gown. Blaise tried to suppress a groan.

Time for a distraction, and hopefully it would lead to a subject change. The current one was just to sticky for Draco and Narcissa. "Narcissa, would you like me to put away the newspaper while you talk to Draco?"

Narcissa looked up at Blaise, panic flashing in her eyes. "No, thank you, dear. I want to keep my place in the paper."

Draco chose this time to speak. "Mother, you look good today." Blaise actually groaned this time, but the two Malfoys didn't hear him.

"Thank you, dear."

"How is your illness?"

Narcissa had almost forgotten she had some sort of 'incurable' disease. "Today's just a good day."

Blaise shifted in his seat. He didn't have a good feeling about this. "Narcissa, his work is going extremely well."

Draco was persistent, too persistent. "How do you feel the rest of the time?"

"Draco, what about the Silver Arrows?" Draco and Narcissa both ignored Blaise.

Narcissa thought quickly. "Very poorly." That was a horrible answer, she thought.

"Chaton scratched up my curtains and now I have to get new ones."

"You look great now." Draco commented again.

For the first time, Narcissa wondered if Draco had found out about her trick. He was certainly grilling her about her sickness, something he'd been doing for the past few weeks.

"Do you have any recommendations?"

She turned to Blaise instead, latching on to this question desperately. "Yes, Blaise, I do. Do you know that place in Hogsmeade? Um, right next to Madame Puddifoots? It's a very nice furniture store, run by one of my old classmates."

As Blaise and Narcissa carried on their conversation, Draco shot a scathing look at Blaise. Blaise merely smirked at him while Draco continued to fume.

Dear Ginny,

I hope you're doing well, because I know Ron and I are! Hawaii is so beautiful! I've heard many people talk about it but I still can't believe the water is so clear! Ron was surprised the first time we snorkeled and he saw a fish swim right by his leg. He leapt out of the water laughing and slammed into me, and I braced myself on a rock. Which just happened to have a sea urchin on it. Bloody things. Then Ron fed this huge, boxy looking fish and it bit him. Serves him right.

You know I'm just joking.

Most of the activities we're doing are muggle things. My parents, as you know, managed to book us a place, and Ron was a bit miffed he couldn't perform magic or the American Ministry of Magic would swoop down upon us and throw us into custody.

Hawaii has the most fascinating history, and the food is very good. Except we found out that Ron has a shellfish allergy, and can't eat shrimp, fish, and whatever they serve in the restaurants here. It was rather funny though, he ate some crab and the next thing I knew, his face was the same color as his hair, and turning even redder from irritation. Don't worry though, I performed a simple healing spell and gave him something called a hamburger instead.

I'm sorry Gin, but I need to you do something. I forgot to get a few of my reports to my head Healer to mail off, and I'm not sure if he can get to them because he probably doesn't know the password to my office. You do, and they should be in a bright red and gold folder inside the filing cabinet in the far right of the room, two drawers down. You know where my office is in St. Mungos, right? Thank you so much; you're such a dear.

I know it's only been a week, but I miss all of you terribly. Say hello to Harry and all of the Weasleys for me. Ron's bugging me now, says that I'm spending too much time with you and it wouldn't do because it's his honeymoon and he intends to use it. He keeps stealing the books I bought on Hawaii, and it's driving me crazy.

I'll see you in a week!

Love always,

Hermione (and Ron)

"Why did you have to bloody change the subject?"

Blaise shrugged. "Because she's not ready for it."

"How would you know? You just didn't want to get blamed for accidentally telling me."

"I can tell, Draco. Did you see how frightened she looked when you started asking her questions?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "No, you didn't."

"I have to tell her sometime."

"I know, but you've hinted at it enough today. I wouldn't be surprised if she already figured it out."

They walked on in silence, both thinking about Narcissa – Draco on how to break it to her, Blaise on how to prevent it from happening. Blaise broke the silence.

"What about Ginny and you?"

"What about it?"

"I know you're not stupid, Draco. She was clearly hinting at you proposing."

"She was?"

"Of course, I quote, 'Is there anything more for you and Ginny in the future?' Come off it, Draco. What else could she be talking about? Sex?"

Draco laughed. "I hope not. That would be disgusting."

"How did you get into the world then? Be mature. You're twenty-four. Grow up."

"I am grown up. And she could have been talking about, um, about…"

"See?" Blaise briefly contemplated telling Draco about the wedding magazines on Narcissa's lap, but he supposed Draco had underestimated Narcissa's desire for the couple to get married and have children. "So are you?" he asked instead.

"I don't know. She hasn't been hinting at it, and if she has, I couldn't tell."

"All women want to marry. It's a known fact." Blaise puffed out his chest knowingly.

Draco snorted and slapped Blaise on the back. "I highly doubt that. I don't make rash decisions. You know that, Blaise."

"I do, but it's been over six months. Shouldn't you get a move on?"

Draco knew Blaise wasn't pushing marriage like his mother would. He was just curious. "Only six months. I'm supposed to judge if someone is my soul mate in six months? I don't see you with your soul mate."

"I haven't found mine yet. And I don't have my soul mate right in front of me. But it's known to happen." Blaise shrugged.

Draco shook his head. "Not in my lifetime. Ginevra is one great woman, but I don't know if she's perfect, thus, I don't know if she's my soul mate."

Blaise smiled gently. "No one's perfect, Draco. Soul mates aren't supposed to be. They're supposed to be perfect for you and you alone."

Ginny walked out of Soul Mates feeling like she hadn't slept in days. After a number of introductory speeches, she had gone back to her office, only to find people who wanted to complain or ask ridiculous questions about her relationship with Draco. Although the media had stopped hounding her, there were always people coming in to see if the rumors were true. She had even found a man disguised as a reporter trying to get more information that day.

But she dragged herself in the direction of St. Mungos anyway. She had sent off a letter promising Hermione that she would give the folder to the head Healer, and she didn't break promises. She entered the sterilized clinic, heading straight for Hermione's office.

A few of the Healer's nodded at her, recognizing her from the hundreds of times she'd been in here, whether it was to visit Hermione, or tend to an unconscious family member (usually Fred or George), or worry over Harry whenever he'd been injured in his Auror duties.

Reaching the locked door of the office, she said the password and went in. It was easy enough to find the papers, but what she couldn't find was the head Healer. She walked down the long hallways, asking people and pictures where he was.

She dejectedly passed by two younger Healers laughing and joking in what appeared to be the staff lounge and decided to give it one last shot.

"Excuse me, do you know where Healer Whit is? I have some papers to give him."

The clean-shaven man with blue eyes looked at his friend. "Didn't he mutter something about the poisoned kid with the flapping wings on the third floor?" When he nodded, he turned back to Ginny and said, "Yep, should be in, " he screwed up his brow as he thought, "the third floor, four hallways down, second door on your right, " he finished, looking at his friend for confirmation.

"Yeah, that's the right room."

"Thank you."

As she left the room, however, she heard one of them whisper, "Say, isn't that Ginger or something Weasley? The one who made the front page a few months back because she was dating that Malfoy."

"Reckon so, Phil. Can't mistake that hair. That's what my younger sister said when she was at Hogwarts."

Ginny rolled her eyes. Then she heard something else.

"You know what I heard Miranda say a few weeks ago?"

"You mean Malfoy's mother's Healer?"

Ginny stopped dead in her tracks.

"Yeah, her. I heard that Narcissa Malfoy was faking a disease so Malfoy could get the girl."

The one called Phil snickered. "Guess he couldn't get the girl on his own."

"I doubt it. He's a well known charmer."

"If that was his girlfriend, though, I suppose he would need a bit of help."

"She's doesn't look that hard to get. I think it's because of the feud between the Malfoys and Weasleys. Maybe Malfoy needed wife material instead of shagging material."

"I would have to say the woman who just walked out of here is definitely shagging material."

The two men continued to banter back and forth, but Ginny didn't hear them. Half of her wanted to tear inside and get more information. The rational half told her to see Draco that night and figure things out.

She took a step forward and found that her legs were shaking. Had Draco really lied to her? Had he made up the whole thing with her in mind? Was it all just a big joke?

When Ginny disapparated, all that was left in her wake were a few papers splattered with tiny droplets of tears.

Draco raced down the street to his flat. Outside, thunder rolled and the air blew, hot and heavy. The rain pounded down on his back as he threw open the door and rushed inside to the lobby. He climbed up the stairs, dripping water.

Once inside his flat, he shook his head to rid his hair of excess water. After waving his wand at a few candles so they lit, he shrugged off his coat and headed for his bedroom to dry himself off. What he didn't expect was someone sitting on his couch.

"Ginevra?"

Ginny turned toward him. If he had looked closer and if the light was brighter, he would have noticed that her eyes were slightly red and her hands shook. As it was, Ginny's face was pale in the candlelight and he stepped forward, concerned.

"Ginevra?" he repeated.

She held up a hand and bit her lip. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Your mother isn't dying." It wasn't a question.

Draco brushed a wet strand of hair away. "What are you – "

"Your mother isn't dying."

Draco swallowed. "No. She isn't."

At these words, Ginny's world fell apart. Desperation turned to anger. "You lied to me."

Draco couldn't figure out what happened. "Ginevra, what are you talking about?"

"You thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you? You've just been playing me for a fool all this time, making me pity you – "she spat.

"Pity me?" Draco scoffed. "When has anyone ever pitied me?"

"I did. And you knew I would. 'Little Ginny Weasley, oh, she might be good for a lay or two. Maybe if I dated her it would drive her brothers crazy. It would be a great time to poke fun at the Weasleys.'" She rose from her seat.

Draco tried to piece together what had happened. "I don't know how you found out, but it's not like that! I never lied to you intentionally!"

"It's too late, Draco. I know all about your plot. You thought I wouldn't figure it out."

"I don't have a plot. My mother lied to me." Was there any hope of salvaging anything?

"Don't give me that. Even if your mother lied to you, which I highly doubt because your mother really has no reason to, when did you find out?" Her eyes blazed and fury radiated off her slender form.

"My mother has plenty of reason to – "

"Answer the question."

"You've met her once! How would you kno – "

"Answer the question, dammit!"

Draco's shoulders dropped. "Last Christmas, " he gritted out.

Ginny pursed her lips. "And you didn't think to tell me."

"I didn't think you make such a big deal of it! As you are doing right now!"

"I'm making a big deal? I shouldn't have a right to know my boyfriend's mother isn't really dying?"

"No, that's not what I meant! Just listen!"

"Listen? You're lucky I'm even here!"

"Can we just act like adults?" Draco tried to rein his temper in.

Outside lighting lit up the sky. "I'm not acting like an adult, am I?'' she said incredulously.

"Look, I just forgot about it. You should understand – "

"I should understand?" Ginny was slightly hysterical. "I should understand? Tell me what I should understand, Draco."

This is just one of our many fights, Draco told himself. We'll be okay. He clenched his fist and knew it really wasn't just a fight. "You should understand that I never lied to you in the first place." He crossed the room and stood before her. "You should understand that I simply forgot to tell you."

"I think I had a right to know!"

"You never asked."

Ginny's mouth dropped open. "I never asked? Am I supposed to question anything regarding the certain death of your mother?" Outside thunder rumbled.

"I understood everything with Seamus, didn't I?"

"That is an entirely different matter!"

"Is it now? I didn't break up with you when Seamus came back."

Ginny's lip curled. "You didn't have a reason to then. I never slept with him. You're the one who blew up at me that night."

Draco knew she was right, but his pride couldn't admit it. "But I didn't break up with you."

"Are you breaking up with me now?"

He didn't expect that. "What?"

"Why don't you just do it now then, huh, hot shot? Why don't you just get it over with?" She emphasized her words with a push.

Draco whipped his head back and she noted with shock his eyes were a steely grey color. "I think I will, " he said, raising his head.

Ginny shouted, "Fine."

"Fine." He nodded his head curtly.

"It's over." She strode toward the door.

"It's over." He didn't even turn around when the door slammed and silence came, surrounding him. Rain still pounded outside, increasing in its intensity.

Hours later, he was still there, dripping a puddle on the floor but not caring, facing the empty fireplace. Standing there late into the night, there was water on his cheeks, and it sure as hell wasn't from the rain.

Author's Notes: Okay, you can all cry now. It was so weird, I was writing this, and I had such a hard time of it in the beginning, I couldn't spell things, and I stumbled over the plot, and then when Draco and Ginny were breaking up, the words just flew out of my fingers, er, the keyboard. Don't think I'm sadistic, though, the best part has yet to come...(I think) Try and understand that their breakup is kind of complicated. I did do a lot of forshadowing with the weather, and I hoped that kind of helped you brace yourself for the big breakup.

I just saw the fourth harry potter movie, and it is ABSOLUTELY BLOODY FANTASTIC! I love it, I love it, I love it! What was funny was that I gasped when Tom Felton came on in that one quidditch cup scene and my cousin hit me. hahaha. I must admit though, moaning mytle and rita skeeter really freaked me out -- they were just plain psychotic, as my friend would say, and I think the whole theatre was seriously disturbed when madame maxine ate that thing out of hagrid's beard. yuck. but Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe made it worth it.

THANK YOU to all of you who liked the PREVIEW to Sand In My Shoes. Unfortunetly, from this point on, it will not be called Sand In My Shoes, but Leaving Paris.

Immortal Vampiress, thank you, I know many of you wonderful reviewers wanted All I Can Ask Of You, or Moonlight Sonata (as I am now calling it), and I really hoped that the preview changed your minds ;)

Sadistically Insane, i don't know about Draco and Ginny getting married by the end of the story...it's sounds like a good idea though. I haven't really thought much about that. do you happen to know any good romance books? I'm at this stage in my life where I crave them like I crave chocolate, and I can't find any good ones.

MoonlightPrincess, yayayay! I'm so glad you noticed that! You'll see soon enough whether the boy is their son or not!

VampireHelsing, no, I don't like in the UK. I live in California.

Chrysanthemum3, whenever I'm done with Match Me, Sand in My Shoes, or Leaving Paris (as I am now calling it) is going to be posted.

Sunflour, I'm happy that you think Moonlight Sonata is more romantic (and musical) because I'm changing the title of Sand in My Shoes to Leaving Paris. You'll see why when the noew story is posted.

SilvinArrow, thanks! I think I may have read that one... and I love that Ginny's old fashioned too! It kind of reflect me, too, so I had loads of fun writing that part.

EmmyLou32, yep, it's seems like only yesterday when I started this story.

supergirlien, Richard Gere is hot for an older dude. Kinda like Johnny Depp, I would never have guessed he's actualy 40!

youngwriter56, so what did you think about the HP movie?

Belladonna-LaMorte, wow, thank you for saying that the story 'hooked' you!

HarryGinnyfan23, I'm always open to recieving luck!

batsydoodles, thank you AGAIN for visitng my xanga, and it would be great if all men were like Draco. hahaha. I don't know about publishing. I suppose I could always change the names or something, but I'm not aiming for anything remotely to that. I want to be a doctor. Thank you ;)

Glittery Pink Faerie Princess, I'm estatic you're enjoying the plot. It's something that I hoped was original!

peter-pan-equals-luv, I'm positive that Seamus won't come back, and I don't think Draco and Ginny will do it anytime soon. remember Ginny and her virginity too.

sunflowerchild, those kids sound adorable, though I'm pretty sure that they must have been annoying to babysit.

Wizzabee, yep, that's exactly how I feel. I'm not saying anyone should be a virgin on their wedding night or anything, but I just think we should value such decisions more, like you said.

Moonyk, YES! YES! YES! I'm JUMPING UP AND DOWN because you noticed the last line. And you were the ONLY ONE to do so. Or at least, the only one who reviewed and talked about it. Both of them could have reasons for saying I love you. I figure you can decide who said that last line. ;)

And Many thanks to:
Aleja21 Janet HyperSquishy malfoyfan1 Serenity Melody Alexandria J. Malfoy atigah gooeygumdrops prancer Sara A. Malfoy

hugs and kisses,
falling into you