Chapter 3: Pizza

Ginny decided not to tell anyone else of Draco's employment at the Daily Prophet. She figured it was best left alone; no good would come from it. Harry would be sure to come in everyday just to make sure that she was still breathing. Ron, well Ron would probably come and kill Mr. McGregor for even thinking about hiring Malfoy.

Malfoy had been working for the Daily Prophet for about a week now since Caroline had left (she had a little girl and named her Isis). He was never really seen around much. He was always out there pestering people for their stories, but when he was around Ginny didn't see much of him. He stayed mainly in his office working on his articles. It was odd for Ginny. She wasn't used t seeing him like this, she was expecting him to be the same as he was in school. He looked the same except maybe a bit more mature, and taller.

It was on a Tuesday when Ginny saw him outside of his office for the first time. He was sitting in a chair in the waiting room to see Mr. McGregor. She glanced over at him and saw him looking at her; she quickly looked back down to her paper work.

"Ginny" a soft masculine voice called out. When she looked up she saw Malfoy standing in front of her desk.

"Yes Malfoy?" she asked trying to make her voice sound cold.

"Have you any idea why I've been called here?"

"No, maybe you're getting fired." She said a slight smirk playing on her lips.

"Yes, maybe." Malfoy said looking at the door t Mr. McGregor's office looking like he was deep in thought. Ginny observed him noticing how pretty he was. He was even a little too pretty. Maybe he's gay. It certainly would make sense. Ginny thought out loud just then the intercom on her desk buzzed.

"Ginny, please send Mr. Malfoy in now." said a crackled voice. Ginny looked up at Malfoy and he sighed. Ginny had never seen him look so dejected.

"Wish me luck" He whispered walking past her desk.

As the door was closing her soft voice rang out.
"Good luck."

Ten minutes later Draco Malfoy walked out with the biggest smile on his face. Ginny looked up at him and noticing how happy he was smiled a bit too. He seemed shocked to see this and she slackened her smile a bit. He was lovely when he smiled like that. Ginny was wondering why she kept having all these thoughts about Malfoy but didn't reprimand herself.

"I take it you're not fired then." She said hoping for an affirmative response.
"Nope. I've just been offered a permanent job here, even after Mrs. McGrann comes back from maternity leave." Ginny felt her smile grow just a little bit.
"Well Miss. Weasley, I think this is a cause for celebration. May I take you out t dinner this evening?" At this request Ginny's smile faltered. Should she go out with Malfoy? The obvious answer was no, she was dating Harry, but part of her wanted to go. Harry was never around and she would go home and spend tonight alone, eating alone while Harry was out partying with some friends that he met God knows where. Ginny looked back up at Malfoy and with a sigh declined the offer, explaining that she was dating Harry Potter.

"It doesn't have to be a date, just a celebration dinner, me paying. It doesn't even have to be anywhere fancy. For me?" His eyes showed such a longing for company tonight. Ginny supposed that wasn't to shocking, no one liked to be alone did they? She looked at him and made up her mind.

"Fine Malfoy. But if Harry gets wind of this, you're dead."

"Aye aye cap'n"

Malfoy and Ginny went to this muggle pizza place called Danto's. Ginny never had pizza before so she let Malfoy order the pizza. He ordered something called a Grand Meat Lovers Supreme, cheesy bread and cokes. When the pizza came out Ginny looked at it oddly. How was all of that supposed to fit inside of her? There was like an inch and a half of toppings. She looked around and realized she recognized all of the food on there. She saw Malfoy just take a triangle shaped piece and took a bit out of the tip. She decided to do the same.

It was heavy and hot. Upon closer inspection she saw that it was covered in cheese. Here goes nothing and she took a bit. It was even hotter when it was in her mouth and she started coughing. Malfoy got a disappointed look on his face.

"You don't like it?" He said surprised. Still coughing she shook her head and grabbed her coke. Taking a sip of it she felt relief in her mouth. Finally she was free to swallow her food. There was an after taste in her mouth and she inspected it for a bit. She looked at Malfoy; smiled and took another bite of the pizza. Malfoy saw this and took a bite of his own.

At about six o'clock they still hadn't left. Ginny found herself actually enjoying Malfoy's company, though often during the evening she found herself wondering why she had agreed to come. She didn't regret it, just wondered. They talked and laughed about some stories at school, they didn't hit a personal level, and they just talked like old acquaintances.

"Ginny, does this make us friends?" Malfoy asked suddenly after they calmed down after laughing about Ron's howler in second year.

"Should it?" She asked right back. It wasn't mean like it would have been. She was trying to find out if he wanted to be.

"Answering a question with a question, how very Slytherin of you." Malfoy laughed as she crinkled her nose in dislike.
"Oh now Weasel, Slytherins aren't all big and bad. Just about 95 of them." Ginny laughed at this. Malfoy in turn smiled. Once again she noticed at how beautiful his smile was.

"List five Slytherins that aren't big and bad." Ginny said challengingly. Knowing that he's probably come up with one, that one being himself.

"What constituted big and bad? Growing up to be a Death Eater?" he asked in all seriousness. When she nodded he made a list. The list surprisingly exceeded five people.

"one: Draco Malfoy. Two: Blaise Zabini. Three: Daphne Greengrass. Four: Pansy Parkinson. Five: Alexander Nott Six: Loretta Edgecomb…"

"Loretta Edgecombe was a Slytherin?" Ginny interrupted
"Yes why. Oh, Marietta?" Ginny nodded, "Yes it was shock. It's a family of goody-goodies but Loretta, well that girl's got a mouth on her."

"Why didn't you take the Mark?" Ginny asked. He looked at her surprised. "I mean that day in the astronomy tower and well I guess I just assumed you had the Mark." Ginny asked suddenly realizing she shouldn't have said anything.

"We'll save that for another day. You're boyfriend's probably waiting."

"Unlikely. He probably hasn't even noticed."

Malfoy drove Ginny back to her flat and walked her to the door. At the doorstep Ginny suddenly felt shy.

"Look Malfoy, I'm s…"

"Sh. It's alright. I better go. I've got a six thirty interview tomorrow. Goodnight" he said softly and took a step closer to her. Looking up at him her breath caught in her chest and she felt faint. He looked down at her and into her eyes and walked away. She turned and wondered why she had even gone with him. She wondered why she enjoyed his company. It was Malfoy; he teased her family all through school. Well, he didn't really tease her. And he wasn't on Voldemort's side. Besides; they were out of school it was time to grow up and forget old rivals. She needed to act like the twenty-two year old that she was.

The door to her house was unlocked which scared Ginny. She walked in and saw Harry sitting on a chair facing the window. He had a scary look on his face, His eyes were unusually dark.

"Was that Malfoy?" his voice was deep and commanding, Ginny gulped.

"Yes." She said meekly.

"When did you meet up with him?" Harry said a slight scowl on his face.
"He just got hired at the Prophet. We just went out to…" She trailed off as she saw the look on Harry's face. It was really scary she had only seen him like this once and that was when he was piss ass drunk in a bar somewhere and had just gotten in a fight.

"You're cheating on me with MALFOY! HOW COULD YOU?" He exploded.

"I'M NOT CHEATING ON YOU WITH ANYONE. WE WENT OUT TO DINNER THAT'S IT. I DON'T SEE WHY YOU'RE MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL AFTER ALL OF THE TRAMPS YOU ROMP WITH!" She yelled right back. Suddenly Harry came rampaging after her and she pulled out her wand. He stopped in his tracks and stormed towards the door. He slammed it open then slammed it shut behind him.