Chapter 5

Ginny awoke feeling warm and contented. She was in her own bed, alone, but she had spent nearly every moment she wasn't at work with Draco over the past week. He was kind to her, he complimented her, gave her flowers nearly every time she saw him. They had good conversations but their playful, witty banter was what she was growing to love the most.

While Draco had changed from the bratty little boy from Hogwarts, he hadn't lost his biting sarcasm or sense of humor. Neither had Ginny. This made for entertaining bouts of insults that usually ended in the bedroom, where clothes were ripped off and passion ensued. Ginny wasn't sure exactly what was going on and she didn't broach the subject either. She always hated those "what are we" talks.

Ginny was doing very well at work and Pansy was bright and cheery as usual, especially considering the success of what she considered her little 'hook-up' between Draco and Ginny. Ginny walked into the study on a Wednesday morning holding her usual cup of coffee and sighed, ready to begin another day of learning and healing.

"We're rotating next week," Pansy said as she greeted Ginny.

"Really? I was liking Birthing rounds!" Ginny whined. However, she knew she had to rotate through every scenario and then narrow it down once the Healers and Residents saw where her strengths lay.

"Me too. My clock is ticking though and I've really got to wait until I get out of Residency to have a baby! Philip said I was getting too many 'ideas' on Birthing rounds. So anyway, we'll be in Psych Monday so come prepared."

"Psych ward?" Ginny breathed. This was something she was not looking forward to. She knew the other Psych Residents and Interns had been working on two things. One, which would make her sad, was finding a cure for Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom, Neville's parents who had been Crucio-ed into madness. Neville visited the quite often, although they really didn't know him. His grandmother had passed a year or so ago.

The second case was that of Lucius Malfoy. Ginny had no desire to work with that man, not after what he'd done to her when she was only in her first year at Hogwarts. She had known she would have to do a Psych rotation at some point, but she had been hoping it was going to be after Lucius Malfoy was cured or dead.

Now, she was torn between how she felt for Dracoand her loathing of the man he called his father. Draco had admitted to her that he hated his father when he was younger. His father was excessively cruel to him and his mother. But, Lucius being in the state he was in had no memory of his former life. He, like the Longbottoms, didn't quite understand that Draco was his son. Draco had explained to Ginny that he thought perhaps what had happened would one day give his father and him a second chance at a real father – son relationship.

Ginny decided to make the best of the rounds she had left on the Birthing ward. She and Pansy were laughing about something a new father said on their way to the cafeteria for lunch. They passed through a set of double doors and Ginny nearly ran over someone in her path. Both she and Pansy stopped.

"Hullo, Ginny," said the owner of the voice. He was a handsome wizard with unruly dark hair and bright green eyes.

"Hi Harry," Ginny didn't sound very thrilled. "What are you doing here? I thought you were,"

"On holiday? Yes I was. Then I got some interesting news and I thought I'd come see you."

Pansy looked between the two, confused. "Harry, you remember Pansy Parkinson? From school? It's Pansy Parkinson-Richards now."

Pansy stuck out her hand and Harry shook it with little interest, his eyes never leaving Ginny's. "Pansy, go on and get some lunch. I'll see you after." Ginny nodded to Pansy who took this as her exit cue and left. Ginny motioned for Harry to proceed through another set of double doors and she followed him out into a walled in garden area.

"I take it you've seen the paper from a week or so ago, then?" she asked, taking a seat at a patio table under a large umbrella.

"Yes, I did and I found it quite interesting," he acknowledged, taking a seat beside her.

"And why might that be?" Ginny asked, starting to become annoyed.

"Well, here I thought you needed to focus on your career and learning. That's what you told me when I asked you to go on holiday with me."

"You asked me to go traveling the world with you, Harry! My career is important to me. I said I didn't have time to travel."

"But you have time to run around with Malfoy," Harry spat.

"Harry, we've been through this! We broke up!"

"I agreed to break up with you because you said you needed to focus. I thought you meant on your career, not on shagging Draco Malfoy!"

"I did mean on my career!" Ginny jumped up from her chair and began to pace in front of the table. "Harry," she said, grasping the edge of the table and leaning forward menacingly. "We've been on-again, off-again for years and I'm sick of it! You want to go gallivanting around all the time and I want a serious career! The two don't mix. And, I'm finding that you always want to come crawling back when someone else comes into my life."

"Come on Gin, you can't be serious about Malfoy!"

"I never said I was! But Draco respects my career and he brings me flowers and takes me on romantic dates, all this stuff you've never done! I'm enjoying it! I really…" Ginny paused. "I really like him and—"

"You really think he likes you for more than just your bedroom skills?" Harry hissed.

"As a matter of fact I know he does! He's taking this relationship or whatever it is far more serious than I have been but you know what? Maybe I should take it more seriously. He has been nothing but sweet and kind and caring to me!"

"I notice you haven't denied sleeping with him," Harry said with a smirk a Slytherin would be exceptionally proud of.

"Not that it's any of your business," Ginny remarked.

"But, it's only been a month or so. This can't have been going on longer than that! You made me wait TWO YEARS and he bedded you what, after one night?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I was sixteen when we began dating for Circe's sake, Harry! Then we broke up for a year and a half! That doesn't count!" she huffed.

Harry remained silent. Ginny sat back down. They were at an impass and they both knew it.

"Look Harry, I don't think there is anything left for us to talk about. I don't want this to be a problem, we've been friends for so long but… I need to move on and in order to do that you need to give me some space. Go enjoy the rest of your holiday."

Harry saw the seriousness in her eyes and sighed. "Fine. But just know that you're breaking my heart," he said as he stood, and walked dejectedly back into the hospital. Ginny leaned back in the chair and covered her eyes with one hand. She stayed that way for a few minutes until she heard footsteps.

"Hey girl, everything okay?" Pansy asked, taking the seat Harry had vacated. "I saw him leave and I wanted to check on you."

Ginny nodded, removing her hand to reveal her flushed face. "See, the thing is, we've been together and not together for so long and we have been going through a not-together period. He found out about Draco and… well you can imagine."

Pansy frowned. "You like Draco, right? You're not going to—"

"Oh, yes Pansy I do! I really enjoy spending time with Draco! He's everything that Harry's never been and I really like that quality about him!" she laughed. "If anything, this chat with Harry has made me realize how much I like Draco."

"I think he'd falling for you, Gin," Pansy blurted. "I don't want you to hurt him and if there is even the most remote chance—

"Pansy, I can't promise you I won't hurt Draco. I would never intentionally hurt any guy, but I know I won't do it over Harry-sodding-Potter!"

"Does Draco know about your history with Harry?"

"No, but I'll tell him. He needs to know."

xxxxxxx

That night, Ginny sat in her living room, awaiting Draco's arrival. She had owled him, asking him to stop by after work. He owled back saying he'd be glad to and should be able to get over to her place between six-thirty and seven.

She heard the pop as he Apparated in and took in the sight of him all dressed in his best work robes. She stood and smiled and he crossed immediately to her, kissing her before removing his cloak.

They sat down on the couch and he smiled. "So, you said you needed to talk to me. Is it something bad?"

"No. Not really. Kind of bad for me I guess, but not for you," she assured him. "See, when Pansy and I were on our way to lunch today, I ran into…" she paused. Draco watched her expectantly. "I ran into Harry. See, he and I have had this on-again, off-again thing for years now and— don't worry it was very well off when I met you— he had found out about you and I and came demanding an explanation."

"If you two are off, why on Earth would he expect one?" Draco asked, crossing his arms and leaning back into the sofa.

"Well, he's always kind of been that way. He's a pain, really. I can't believe I didn't catch on sooner. He'd always come back around once he got word I had moved on."

"And the fact that you've moved on with me just added to it, didn't it?" Draco asked and Ginny nodded.

"I let him know that I like where I am at right now and who I am with. I mean, you have loads of money, but you work! Harry just wants to travel the world and not do anything. I'm sure that's nice and all but… I love being an intern and I am going to love being a Healer even more! My work is important to me. I can see that yours is to you as well and that means something to me."

"So Potter has a poor work ethic. What else is new?" Draco chortled. Ginny smiled and playfully smacked his arm. Before she had a chance to pull her arm back, Draco had grabbed it and she was straddling him. He began unbuttoning her shirt and was pleased to see the hook of her bra was in front. He unclasped it and began to kiss her neck and rub the smooth skin of her breasts.

Just as she was beginning to kiss his ear in return, they heard another pop and Ginny grabbed at the front of her shirt as she heard, "Get off my sister, you bloody git!"

Ginny was on her feet in no time, holding her shirt together with her hands. She was more red than Draco could have ever imagined she could get. "Ronald Bilius Weasley!" She shrieked. "I've told you time and time again to Apparate outside my door and knock! I guess now maybe you'll have learned your lesson!"

Ron huffed and rolled his eyes. Draco eyed the brother and sister and remained in his seat. "Harry told me what you said to him! How could you treat him like that? He loves you, Ginny! And here you are getting it on with Malfoy!"

"Harry thinks he loves me when he can't have me! I could tell you things about your best friend, like how he would go running to Cho if we had a fight. Wonder if her husband knows how she consoled him?"

Ron's eyes went wide. "That's right," Ginny said as Draco watched with his mouth gaping. "The perfect Boy-Who-Lived had his fair share of indiscretions and yes, I know all about them! Well at least I had the decency to make a clean break of it before I moved on. And I have! I like Draco and I'm happy with what he and I have. Now if you don't mind, Draco and I were busy!" Ginny grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him up off the sofa. He slowly followed her into her bedroom, where she slammed the door. They heard the soft pop of Ron Disapparating.

"I'm sorry about that," Ginny said sheepishly as Draco pulled her into a hug. She ran a hand down his chest.

"Ginny, are you sure you're... you know... over all that?" Draco asked cautiously.

"I've never been more sure," Ginny said, slipping her arms around his neck and attacking his mouth with soft kisses. "Take me to bed."

xxxxx

A/N: I am so pleased with the response to this story! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed!