Note: Life is grand, wonderful, and absolutely fantastic.

Keep in mind that when Ginny's mad. She doesn't think right when she's angry and those thoughts tend to get out of hand.

Also, bad chappie title. My sincer apoligies.

He dreamt, therefore, he existed.

-Sandra E.

No point really in placing that there. Just love her (stories).

To Live With or Without You

Chapter Two:

For Life

She was ready to kill him.

It was half-past noon and Malfoy wasn't there at all. She now waited outside the store, her foot tapping against the ground impatiently as her brown eyes scanned the crowd around her angrily. If he came she would kill him--

First, hexes on his stupid face (maybe to just cause pimples or scars).

She hated his perfect face and it had to get ruined.

Repeats of Moody's ferret-Malfoy spell.

Because she needed to live that memory, seeing as she wasn't there for the first time.

Then, to finish it all off, a long and painful death which could only be done by her hand-- no potions or help from anyone else.

--The thoughts on this were enough to cause a small smile to appear on her lips as she thought of it but it quickly changed into a scowl as he came walking towards her. Malfoy didn't seem to look any different, if anything, he looked like the same boy who annoyed her at Hogwarts and during some (rare) parts of the war. His perfectly blonde hair was still loose on his head and his lips still formed that damnable smirk.

He paused before her and her scowl deepened.

"You're late, Malfoy," she snapped.

"You're early," he replied, smiling as her cheeks flushed to a light pink.

"You-- you should feel lucky! If I didn't--"

"You, Weasley, have too much ego," he said, cutting her off as he peered to his right, ignoring her. "Can we head off now? Much as I love talking in public with you, I'd rather have it be in private."

"What?" she snapped.

How dare he--

--How dare he!

"What do you mean, by what?" he answered, frowning at her.

She fumed silently as her eyes narrowed into a stern glare. If she didn't-- if she hadn't accepted the job then he would be in Azkaban! Her hands formed fist and she wanted to bad just to turn and decline the assignment but--but without the job…

She froze.

Anger gone as she stood there, momentarily shocked.

He had--

--tucked her hair in behind her ear.

"You had a bit of fuzz in your hair," he muttered. He flicked the fuzz off his finger before stowing his hand into his pant-pocket. "Can we go now?"

"Erm--"

He moved towards her, his eyes watching either side of him. "The war maybe over for you but that doesn't mean it is for me," he said slowly, "I need to leave now. I can't protect you without a wand and I highly doubt you can use yours--"

Her cheeks flushed angrily again and she glared up at him.

He smirked, apparently waiting for this. "Just kidding," he said, patting her cheek, "but we have to leave."

"All right," she muttered, "bossy prat."

She grabbed his arm before apparating to just outside of her apartment. "Thanks," he said coolly, removing her arm. He looked at the door as she stared at him. She supposed she lied earlier as Malfoy seemed different. Less cocky and more polite; less confident and shyer; less brave and more--

"The door," he snapped. He looked over at her and smirked. "Am I that interesting, Weasley?"

"Shut it," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks burning as he laughed quietly. She opened the door and froze, the door swinging freely to allow the newcomer in. Malfoy stopped laughing and stood closer to her as she panicked. Her apartment was-- was in ruins, not like before when she had been there with…

Her eyes widened.

…Harry.

"Harry," she gasped, running in. "Harry," she called out, "Harry!"

"Potter, what--" Malfoy said suddenly and she turned.

Harry was on the floor, clutching his leg and gasping. His glasses were missing and his shirt cut open to reveal a nasty cut over his right shoulder. She felt a huge relief flood over her as she rushed over to him, her eyes watching over him for anymore serious injuries before she fell on her knees before him. "Harry," Ginny whispered, "What happened?"

He winced as she touched his cheek. "I don't know," he breathed, "just a few moments ago there were guys and they kept on saying they were looking for something."

"Looking for what? Did they say anything about what they were looking for?" she asked, biting her lips as Harry leaned against her hand, his eyes closed.

"I don't know," he muttered while opening his eyes and looking at her, "I think it was someone though. I thought it was you but then they said something about not being able to find him and--"

"Me," Malfoy interrupted.

They both looked over at him.

He looked pale, nervous, and--

"They were looking for me," he said, shakily.

--Scared.

"It's good that you came here so quickly," Riley said, "Potter was in pretty bad shape."

"I know," she said softly, her hands idly spinning the spoon in her cup of coffee.

They were both at St. Mungos, waiting for Harry to awaken so they could get more information about the men who were after Malfoy-- who, was in the same room which was keeping three more aurors, just in case the men decided to show up again. Her eyes moved to Malfoy as Riley talked to one of the aurors shortly. His eyes were trained out the window, his face passive. An odd feeling--quite possibly pity--came over her as she eyed him before looking away and focusing back to her conversation with Riley.

She didn't quite catch the look Malfoy sent her soon after.

"I'm sending you and Malfoy off somewhere else," Riley muttered, his voice low and his face serious. She frowned at the sound of it, not liking how it sounded--her and Malfoy that is.

"Sending me off," she repeated, grasping at the paper he handed her.

"That's the location," he said, his voice just above a whisper, "read it quickly and remember it."

Vaguely, she wondered why it was such great importance to keep Malfoy safe but she rather not have a second fight with her boss and opened it instead. Inside were written three simple words and after spending a few seconds on it, Riley took the paper from her and stuffed it into his cup of water before muttering a fire spell. She watched as the fire ate the paper before the ash settled to the bottom. The words were still in her mind as she did so.

Third Street Lane

"I don't know where that is," she said, looking back at Riley, "but I suppose you'll tell me later."

"Hmm," Riley said. He got up and poured the water into four different cups before handing them to all the aurors in the room-- including her. "Take this and dump it somewhere, anywhere-- not far, mind you, I just don't want them to be able to fix the note somehow."

Ginny snickered. "Sure are paranoid, eh Cunningham?"

Riley rolled his eyes with a frown before shoving her off gently. "Just go."

She flashed him a grin before walking off down the hall and towards Harry's room. She paused before it and stared at his sleeping form. He hadn't been hurt badly, she knew that but--

--But she couldn't enter the room.

Pursing her lips she made to turn before sighting Malfoy watching her, his lips in a frown. She eyed him warily before dumping the water into the plant besides her as Malfoy slowly walked towards her. "You should be back in the room, Malfoy," she said flatly.

Something flashed within his eyes and she frowned.

"You're angry with me, aren't you?" he sneered, pausing before her.

She made a move to get away from him

He blocked her exit.

She glared up at him, a hand pressing into his chest, shoving him lightly. "Don't," she snapped, her voice low, "talk about this in front of Harry's room."

He ignored her demand. "Aren't you curious?" he asked, gripping at her hand. "Aren't you wondering as to why they came after me? Worried about the limited safety around me, hmm?"

She ignored him and tried to pass him again but he gripped tighter on her hand and she winced.

"Damnit, Weasley," he snapped, "you're suppose to keep me safe. They go on and on about how your record is so brilliant and yet all I can hear is how you keep messing up lately!"

"Don't raise your voice to--"

"I will if I want to!" he exasperated. She eyed him warily; he was acting like a child. He turned away from her and leaned heavily against the white wall. She furrowed her brow and felt her refuse to admit that he was right.

That she was indeed angry with him--

And why shouldn't she had been? Harry's life was at stake! Because--

Because when she saw him. When she saw Harry hurt she just couldn't--

Malfoy moved past her and was heading towards Harry's room. Her eyes widened and she followed, just standing outside the room as Malfoy walked towards Harry and--

And Harry was awake.

"Malfoy," Harry said, sounding groggy, "What happened?"

"You passed out from lack of blood," Malfoy responded.

"Where's--"

"Outside the door," Malfoy sounded like he was forcing his kindness now. She would've laughed if Harry hadn't caught her eye and tried to get up--

"Don't get up, you idiot!

--Before she rushed into the room.

Harry smiled weakly before lying down. Malfoy merely eyed her before leaning against the wall, arms crossed, as he watched. "You were worried," Harry said, his tone mocking.

"Why would I be worried over you?" she huffed, poking him.

"You were though," Harry said, "thanks."

She looked at him and to Malfoy. She was happy, relived and--

And bursting into tears.

She buried her head onto Harry's stomach as she whined and cried loudly as a child. She felt Harry laughing before putting his hand on her head. She missed hearing Malfoy walking out the room and missed the look on his face as he did so. However, Harry hadn't.

"I can't allow you to be with them, Potter," Cunningham snapped at him.

Harry scowled, his hand gripping at the table before him tightly. He hated this man. Nothing about him, did Harry trusted at all. "But--"

"No," Cunningham snapped, his eyes setting into a cold glare, "and that's final or I'll have your commander put you on hold."

"You--"

But he was already out the door, leaving Harry seething.

End Chapter

Ginny: Squee! Maybe it'll change to me and Harry getting together.

Draco: Highly doubtful. I was promised you and I mean, all of you.

Ginny: If you-- if you lay a hand on me I'll--

Draco: Kiss me?

Ginny: Urgh! I quit!