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Most importantly:
KeeperofthePineNeedles: Thanks! You have no idea how much your review meant to me !
louey31: He was concerned with respect to Draco's sudden visit, which I will explain in the next chapter. You will love Blaise in this chapter, I know I did ;)
Thanks to everyone who read and my love to those who reviewed :)
/ A/N:
This chapter has been re-written more times than any of my assignments ever, hope this passes with better colors than any of them did wink
Well honestly I was a little disappointed with the number of reviews for the last chapter after all the hard hours put in, that's such a BIG lie, I was devastated, it broke my heart and I've put in extra-extra hard hours into this one.. Hope this fares better …
This chapter has a huge chunk of an italics section, which means it happened in the past.
Carrying on with the story…
Previously:
In a small voice, Hermione continued, "Harry is bored of Quidtch and is planning on returning and work at the Ministry, he was going to surprise you by stopping by your office so that he can irritate Edward a little too.
Anyway, I think he does not know that you quit and dumped Edward; I wanted to talk to you about it, why have not you told him yet? Do you want me to tell him?"
"I will floo him after breakfast, I was planning on asking him about Malfoy too since they worked closely during the war"
"What about my opinion?" bellowed Ron, glaring at Ginny.
"Well I don't need an eleven year olds opinion"
The siblings continued their bickering all the way to breakfast and kept glaring at each other through the meal. Deciding this wasn't the best time to bring up the moving out issue, Hermione left for work planting a kiss on her husband's cheeks who was too busy throwing dirty looks at his sister.
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Ginny was a nervous about her floo call to Harry this morning. Nevertheless, she needed his advice for sure, it had seemed as though Harry and Malfoy had buried their school rivalry and prejudice during the war sometime.
Hermione had freaked her out, why was Harry suddenly returning? She wasn't sure how Harry would react, anyway at least he wasn't Ron, immature jerk, her good for nothing brother.
It wasn't as though she needed his permission; she was free Harry-free she smiled sardonically. He was an important part of her life, well her past and her family's present. At least he is not as bad as Ron, thought Ginny with a frown recalling this morning's fight.
She had only three hours before she had to meet with Blaise Zabini, with a sigh she threw the floo powder into the fire place, making the connection.
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Blaise Zabini groaned as sunlight hit his face, a growl escaped his lips. Slowly he opened his eyes gazing at the outline of what seemed like the figure of his wife, a lazy smile.
Evidently, she had taken her shower or bath. Her robe was thin; she looked at him disapprovingly as he leered at her.
"So when are we leaving?" she asked sitting at the edge of their bed. Ignoring her question, he gently pulled her towards him, and proceeded to rub her tummy, trying to feel the baby.
Next thing he was cupping her breasts, while his lips and tongue were gazing her shoulders towards her neck, a moan escaping her lips, she leaned into his touch.
In a few days it was going to be their sixth anniversary, he was wondering what to get her.
"You didn't answer my question"
"I was kind of hoping, you would get too distracted to notice" he replied continuing his assault on her senses.
"Nice Try, but manipulation using sex just isn't your strongest skill"
Pansy turned to face him, "Can we make it?" she seriously asked him.
"Do you remember the female Weasly from Hogwarts?" replied Blaise plopping against the pillows, stretching in a way that reminded her of a contented feline.
"Red haired - short tempered – Potters girl friend, What about her?"
"I was thinking of fixing her as a temp in my position"
"And Draco agreed to this?"
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him" he replied with a smirk
"He will kill you"
"I will get all the documentation signed long before he finds out, anyway did he tell you anything about why he turned up yesterday"
"No, but he did tell me he was going to return from Ireland as soon I was settled in, he has some important Ministry clearance stated for next month and he needs to work on that pronto. Is it going to be too hard on him if you left now?"
Blaise replied with a firm "NO" pulling her into his lap, his head in her hair, smelling her lavender shampoo.
A month ago, he had come home to find his wife unconscious on the living room floor a pool of blood near her.
"Velvet" screamed Blaise, calling for her personal house elf, as he lifted his wife's unconscious body carrying her to their bedroom.
With a pop she appeared in their bedroom, just as he summoned her healer.
Pansy had received a letter a few hours ago, after which she sent Velvet to sit with Catherine and locked herself in the living room, was all he could gather from the scared mumblings of the elf.
The healer informed him that she had almost suffered from a miscarriage and had lost a lot of blood; his advice was complete bed rest for at least a week, for now he had given her a mild sedative but she needed sleep and rest for a few days to fully recover.
After the healer left he joined her in their bed, silently thanking his gods for saving his unborn child, running his hands through her hair he kissed her on the mouth.
This brought back memories of the day he realized how much he loved her, it was after their seventh year.
After their graduation Pansy had decided to join her mother in Ireland where her mother was hiding from the death eaters. Helen Parkinson like Pansy realized the dark lord was a lost cost though Mr. Parkinson begged to differ.
Those were probably the darkest times ever, the death eaters were attacking neutral purebloods.
Earlier the same week, the Zabini manor had been attacked, and the order had arrived too late. Blaise's parents had been killed, their crime being the refusal to join the muggle hating mad hatter.
Blaise had been visiting Draco at that time hence had survived the attack.
Draco was hiding in muggle London, protected by the Fidelius Charm, Snape being the secret keeper. Blaise was about to leave for home, when the letter from Snape had reached them.
The letter informed Draco of the attack on the Zabini manor and asked them to apparate to Hogwarts. Apparently Lucius's search was for his son was getting very desperately and no one was sure why.
They reached the Slytherin common room to find Snape waiting, he briefed them that the attack on the Zabini manor was thought to be a desperate attempt to unnerve Draco and make him do something stupid which would lead right him into the blood thirsty bastards hands, which by the look on Draco's face seemed to be working.
Snape was lecturing Draco on his safety, it was very crucial that he be hidden at least till could find why Lucius wanted him. Hermione and Ron entered carrying a frail girl who was covered with blood. As they laid her on a couch Blaise realized with horror that it was Pansy.
Apparently his wasn't the only household that had been attacked.
Hermione and Ron had been sent to inform Snape of the attack on the Meissar manor in Ireland, which belonged to Mrs. Parkinson's parents and was her hiding place.
They had found Pansy at the foot of the staircases leading from the Entrance Hall to the dungeons, with a vase in her hand, which Snape recognized as the portkey he had given Helen Parkinson incase of emergencies to the Entrance Hall at Hogwarts.
She was unconscious for five days, very weak, yet alive, Blaise thanked god for Helen's quick thinking of transporting Pansy to Hogwarts in the face of an attack.
Sadly it wasn't without casualties, Darren Parkinson had died saving his wife and daughter, he hadn't known of the victims identity till the attack had begun, and luckily the order had arrived in time to save Helen Parkinson, who was then recovering at the order headquarters wherever it was.
The attacks targeting his friends made Draco decide to fight with the order against Snape's better judgment, he left it was important to figure out what Lucius wanted from Draco, but Draco was adamant.
The night Pansy woke for the first time, Blaise had fallen asleep at her side, he woke to the sensation of fingers running through his hair, he saw a smiling pansy when he opened his eyes. He had grabbed her and kissed her with all he was worth and remembered the moan that had escaped his lips as she returned the kiss.
Breaking for air they burst laughing, her head had started to hurt again, making him call for Snape. Draco had visited her later that day. If they noticed the way Pansy held onto Blaise as she narrating the dreadful incident, no one was letting on.
Her mother's injuries had been more serious, Helen Parkinson took a whole month to recover.
That was the night Blaise Zabini discovered his love for his best friend, well his female best friend. She was still very weak and it was a long road to recovery but the journey had begun and Zabini had refused to join the war, his main concern lay with Pansy.
She too seemed to return his feelings but he wasn't very sure as he knew of her long time crush on Draco, which was something they would deal with later, right now her safety was all that mattered to him.
It was the night that Lord Voldemort had died Pansy had seduced Blaise, who said love didn't blossom in doom.
Five years later again he had almost lost her again, with a sigh he realized Pansy was moaning in her sleep, nightmares he guessed.
He wrapped his arms around her to protect her from whatever demons were troubling her.
He loved her most, well Catherine did give her a run for his love, and with a start he remembered Catherine. In his concern over Pansy he had forgotten their daughter.
Tucking Pansy under the blanket, he left for his daughter's room; Catherine Helen Zabini was sound asleep in her security blanket.
The sight of his daughter's peaceful face brought a smile to his face. Velvet was also in the room, she had moved into the shadows as though afraid he would attack her.
Instructing her to take care of Catherine he returned to his bedroom.
As he got into their bed he realized that Pansy was infact awake and was staring at the ceiling with a vacant look in her eyes.
"That was quite a scare you gave me" he tried joking..
Pansy threw her arms around him and began sobbing uncontrollably; he started rubbing her shoulders whispering soothing words into her ears namely that the baby fine there was no need to worry and all she needed was a little rest.
"Mums dead" she finally managed to choke. "I received a letter from Aunt Heather apparently she passed away in her sleep last night"
"I am sorry honey, we will go the first thing in the morning" he cooed rocking her back and forth, over an hour sleep re-claimed her, but he continued rocking her till the early hours of the morning.
Then he untangled himself from her and moved to their study.
He had summoned Voldemort, his house elf; he had named it after the dark lord to make the bastard roll in his grave.
"Make a floo call to Malfoy manor and fetch Draco Malfoy for me, tell him it's urgent" instructing the elf he had poured himself a firewhisky and sank into the comfortable couch awaiting Draco.
He was abruptly shaken from his reminiscing, to realize cold water had unmercifully been dumped on him.
"That is what you get, if you dare day dream while I try to seduce you" an angry pansy informed him. As she took his disheveled appearance in, she fell on her back laughing at his expense, making him pounce on her as he reclaimed her lips in a passionate kiss.
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Harry checked his appearance for the hundredth time appreciatively, he had to look his best today he was to meet someone very special.
He was done with Quidtch, round the world tours, new town, one night stands with women who were fascinated beyond reality to be with Harry potter the boy-who-didn't-die, six years one would expect people to get over it, initially it had kind of thrilled him but now the pressure was getting to him and he decided he was done with it.
He had decided to return to London, rejoin the Auror force like Ron and settle down with a good girl; well namely a red head with a temper to match her hair was closer to the truth.
He was going to floo to her work today, fluster Edward a little and then make her his, yes operation win-Ginny-back was in motion, he had owled Hermione discussing the moving back part with her, but he hoped she hadn't figured out hidden the win-Ginny-back part of his plan also.
As he was about to apparate to the ministry of magic wherein he would fill an application for an Auror; though it was not required he knew, they had been pestering him for years to re-join.
He heard someone call his name from the living room of his hotel room; he was surprised to find Ginny her eyes searching for him.
"Good Morning" he called out cheerfully attracting her attention.
"Good Morning to you too" she replied smiling.
"Care to join me for breakfast"
"Sure some coffee sounds great, lead the way" she replied laughing.
Over a breakfast of croissants and coffee she re-told her tale for the second time that day, this time including her fight with Ron.
"Well sounds like Ron is doing fine" replied a smiling Harry,
"Whereas about Zabini's offer, I think you should go for it but at the same time let me warn you, that man is real smart, be very clear of what you are getting yourself into, and as you already suspected there might be a catch somewhere. I am surprised that Malfoy hasn't gotten himself involved till now, usually he is very picky of who works with him, gets absolute bitchy if they doesn't suit him I've heard"
That's what she hadn't been troubling her, she hadn't able to pin point it, the conspicuous absence of Malfoy the git, and every now and then there was somebody who was suing him for wrongful termination.
"Hmmmmm I will have to ask Zabini about it I guess"
"Ginny, I have decided to give Quidtch up and re-join the ministry as an Auror"
"Just am tired of a new town, broken relationships all the time" he added seeing her concerned look.
"Mum is going to be livid; she is constantly cribbing about how little she gets to see you now"
After over thirty minutes of small talk and exchanging notes, Ginny apparated for London.
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"Good afternoon" replied a smiling Zabini as he rose to shake her hand.
"Good afternoon"
"I have the contract ready, would you like to go throw it now? Will you take tea or coffee" he questioned, as she sat facing him.
The smug bastard didn't even ask me if I was interested before assuming I had accepted she thought, well you wouldn't be here if you weren't interested her conscious snapped back, aloud she said "Coffee would be fine, I would like to go throw them now"
He handed her a binder, instructing his secretary to send two coffees to his office pronto over the intercom.
"The documents were all fine but …" thought Ginny.
"Let me be honest with you, for personal reasons I need to leave for sometime and need someone to fill in, I overheard your outburst at Alasandros and got my secretary to check your credentials and qualifications."
"You seemed to suit the job and as you were looking for a challenge I decided to make you an offer, and believe me it's quite an experience working with Draco Malfoy irrespective of what the daily prophet has to report" he finished flashing her his best smile.
There was something very earnest about him, but who was she to question his interest in getting her hired. It seemed good enough and he was being honest with her.
She picked the pen he had placed in the binder and signed the contract, committing a year of her time here.
After a year the contract was subjected to a renewal, it was just a matter of procedure as she knew, moreover she might not be interested in working here after a year, and it was so far ago that she shrugged any doubt she had.
"I guess this calls for a celebration, let me welcome you to Malfoy Holdings in a manner befitting" he relaxed visibly as he walked across the room, muttering a spell to reveal a hidden safe wherein he deposited the papers, then the safe disappeared.
He transfigured two champagne glasses and the finest champagne she had ever tasted from thin air.
"Very impressive" though Ginny.
As they were toasting her new position, the door burst open to reveal an extremely irritated Draco Malfoy.
"I heard from Samantha that the Weaslette had been paying you visits, can I know why?" he asked banging the door shut.
The nick-name brought back bad memories of torment that Malfoy had subjected her to during their younger years at Hogwarts causing Ginny to glare at him.
"Good to see you too, Draco" replied a smirking Blaise, there couldn't be a moment better than this he thought.
"Meet your new chief officer – operations, Ginevra Weasly, she will be starting from tomorrow in my place" he said gesturing towards Ginny.
For a minute, Malfoy was stunned, and just stared at her.
Blaise had almost muttered a "Cat got your tongue".
Draco turned to glare at him.
It was very amusing to see Draco like this; freaking out, usually he was so much in control that it used to freak people.
"You have got to be kidding me" bellowed Draco Malfoy now glaring at Ginny.
"Whoopie! I am equally delighted at having working with u, Malfoy" spat Ginny matching his glare.
"Correction my dear while Blaise works 'with' me, you will be working 'for' me" countered a smirking Draco, her face turned as red as her hair. Aah if only looks could kill.
'This might work out pretty well' though Blaise Zabini, his eyes alternating between them.
Clearly Draco had recovered from his initial shock, and now there would be hell to pay.
Sneak Preview:
"Shouldn't you discuss it with your parents" bellowed an irritated Molly.
"Well you see I wanted to surprise you all" Ginny tried lamely to save her hide.
"Shock is the word my dear" replied an amused Fred.
"Shame is the word too, you didn't consult dear mum before you signed anything, how could you?" added an equally amused George.
"You are the ones to talk" snapped Molly.
Charlie, Ron, Harry were openly sniggering now.
"See that's what you get for not listening to me," gloated Ron.
"You knew and you didn't tell me!"
A/N: I decided to only introduce them here, the next chapter will be a little more of Harry – Ginny, aren't you people curious about what happened between them?
There was a lot of Pansy/Blaise in this chapter no worries!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! It only gets better !
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