Chapter 22

Ginny woke up with her hand laying across the other side of the bed. Harry was gone. There was a messy little piece of paper underneath her hand.

In Harry's scrawled handwriting it said,

Ginny,

Sorry I couldn't stay, but you know how this business is.

Running to and fro at everyone's beck and call...

such a life I lead.

love, Harry

Ginny almost sighed but stopped herself. He said, love. But of course, everyone signs letters with love. She nodded, trying to reassure herself. Then she stood up from bed, pulling her pajamas and underwear off, leaving them on the floor, she opened the door to her bedroom, finding it fun to be sneaking around naked, even though she knew that there wasn't anyone there.

Suddenly she became scared, there was no one there. Anyone could come and do anything to her... no one would be there to help her. She shut the door quickly and locked it.

She opened the closet, then full of her clothes and hid behind her coats, sitting there for hours, scared to move.

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When she woke up it was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, she shook her head at herself, it was pathetic to hide in a closet.

She quickly took a shower and got dressed, ate some lunch and headed out of the apartment. She was going to look for a job.

She asked Olivander if he needed any help, but he said he hadn't had help in his shop since it was started and he wasn't planning on stopping a tradition, "even for a girl like you".

It had made Ginny a little mad so she had stopped at a little pub on a corner to grab a butterbeer and soak in her dismay.

As she opened the door and heard the little bell tinkle she could see orange hair in the corner of the pub, orange hair, of course... other people had orange hair. She sat down at the bar and the bartender quickly payed attention to her. He was about20 or so, he was actually quite handsome in ansexy sort ofway, He had a tattoo on his muscled right arm, it was a skull. He had a tight shirt on that excentuated his muscles. He had brown eyes and brown skin and black hair.

"What can I get for you beautiful." he smiled, she blushed.

"Well... just a butterbeer, thank you."

He laughed a little. "Come on, try something new, you'll like it." he looked as if he knew that she wouldn't, try something new.

"No, no."

He laughed and walked away.

Ginny looked back over to the other side of the room and saw him, Percy Weasley, staring at her. He had the same ugly look on his face, like she was dirt. She quickly looked away from him. It had been so long, she couldn't... she barely thought of him anymore, how he had broken up their family. Now they were better, they didn't need him.

The bartender came back and set the butterbeer in front of her, not leaving, just staring at her.

"You don't remember me Ginny?"

Her head shot up, how did he know her name?

"N-no."

He laughed a little. "It's alright. I was two years ahead of you at Hogwarts."

She nodded smiling politely.

"Ivan Frank."

She did remember him, he had used to stare at her all the time, it made her rather uncomfortable but it also made her feel quite special. Once he had asked her out, but she had to turn him down because Dean had asked her out earlier that day. She was very suprised at how he looked compared to how he used to look, of course she only saw him in his Hogwarts uniform before.

"Do you remember me?"

"Yes." she nodded, blushing, and tried to look away.

He laughed a little again.

"You know I used to be mad about you."

"Well..."

"Your gorgeous."

"I..."

"Will you go out with me tomorrow night?"

"Yes."

She shocked herself, she had answered so quickly, but she had always had a little bit of a crush on him, not a Harry Potter crush, but a crush. He was handsome and he adored her, and he wasn't afraid to let everyone know that he adored her.

He nodded, grinning, "What time?"

"Excuse me." Someone annoyingly high voice behind her croaked, Percy. Ginny rolled her eyes.

Ginny turned around and looked at him, "Just go away, it's what your good at."

"Oh don't worry, I'm not coming back... I just wanted to say that... I think it's really disgusting what your doing. I have to keep the name Weasley unfortunately, and your not making it any better." His ratty little face was glaring at her. Ginny felt like punching him. "I heard that you'd been sleeping around lately but really, picking up bartenders... your just pathetic."

Ginny looked at him in shock, how could he say that, that was not the Percy she knew.

Suddenly Ivan stood up and his brown eyes bore into Percy, Percy looked scared and he backed up a bit.

"Get out of my bar."

Percy nodded and rushed out.

Ivan laughed a little and looked at her, "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, I'm sorry he insulted you."

He nodded and didn't stop smiling. "I can't believe he's your brother he's such a bastard."

She smiled a little. "I haven't seen him in years."

"Well... that's a good thing I guess."

"Yeah, I guess." Ginny smiled, she loved how Ivan's teeth were so nice and pearly and perfect, in straight rows.

"Well... 8 o'clock then?"

She nodded and picked up her red little purse from the counter and handed him a bit of money for the butterbeer. "You wouldn't happen to have a job around here for me would you?"

He looked a little shocked, "Of course I do." Then suddenly he frowned, "I don't know... this place isn't much for ladies like you."

She blushed. "Come on, I really need a job."

"Alright, how about being my assistant bartender... I would have to teach you a thing or two but I think it might work out nicely." he teased, his brilliant teeth showing again.

"That sounds wonderful." She smiled and stood up to leave.

"Wait... Where's your place?"

"Oh," she giggled a little, "It's apartment 13 Quizical apartments."

He laughed a little.

"You know the place?"

"Yeah, I used to live there."

She smiled, "I expect you to be on time then."

He nodded seriously and winked as she walked out.