ack! hi guys! This is the not-so-long awaited sequel to Inner Turmiol, I really hope you like it! This prologue is super-long, I know. Not everything'll be this long, it's just that...this sets up a lot, you meet some nifty newcomers. I hope I did them well, tell me if you like 'em. The first chapter is about the same length, but again - a lot happens. So we'll see. I hope you like! and I hope you stay! here goes nothin...

also, I'm really, really, really, thankful that so many of you have been awaiting this...I was pretty hesitant about posting/writing it, because it's going to be different than Inner Turmoil (conflicting/angsty teenagers are much more interesting to read and write about than conflicted adults...it's just...they're crazier.) PLEASE REVIEW!

oh, and since I don't have too much written, updates won't be as frequent as they were for Inner Turmoil (when I had, like everything done). Thanks for understanding, lol : )

bela

Neverending Road

Prologue - After All

"I'm off on a rocketship, prepared for something new.
I'm off on a rocketship, ecstatic with the view.
I am scared of the things upcoming,
and I want for the things I don't have,
Cannot stand to be one of many - I'm not what they are..." -'Rocketship', Guster

Tired and hungry, Ginny followed Draco into a small diner. They each had a small bag slung on their shoulders, enough for a few essential items. She didn't know where in America they were, except by the ocean. Wherever they were, it was nice. It was a small town, but it was quite crowded. She felt like, even through their odd clothing, they blended in. Two people in a sea of strangers. No one gave them a second glance, or knew who a Malfoy was on sight, or a Weasley for that matter. She liked the obscurity of it all, but her heart ached for home. She reminded herself of the situation and her decision, and tried to forget about it all for awhile.

She looked around the cozy diner and noticed the casual nature of it all. The chairs mismatched, and people were scattered at random tables, mostly with papers and a cup of somethng to drink. It was early afternoon, but they hadn't eaten all day - Draco had very little Muggle money left after they took a plane and a few trains and buses to get to wherever it was that they were.

He led her to a small table in a corner by a door, which Ginny assumed led to the kitchen. She fell into her chair and looked sadly at the floor. She couldn't stop thinking about her family, imagining her brothers' faces, her mother's reaction...

"Hey," Draco said softly. "What do you want?" She just shook her head. "Red, you haven't eaten in almost two days..." They'd been gone for three now, and they'd barely slept. She shrugged her shoulders and kept her gaze firmly on the floor.

"Hey there, what can I getcha?" a chirpy voice said. Ginny looked up to see a woman with dark brown hair and a pencil behind her ear smiling down at her. It almost made her cry that, when Ginny's whole world was changing, practically crumbling and rebuilding itself, someone could look so secure and happy.

"We'll just have...two glasses of water. And a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup for me."

"Soup? In June?" The woman asked, confused. Draco just glared at her.

"Yes. Soup." He said shortly.

"Ok...anything for you to eat?" She asked Ginny softly. "You look awful." She said sympathetically.

"She's fine." Draco snapped. "She doesn't want to eat." The woman gave Draco a challenging look, which he returned with a glare.

"Thanks, but. I didn't ask you." And she turned her back on him, as much as she could and still be facing Ginny. "You sure you don't want anything to eat?" Ginny looked down at her hands and nodded. The woman seemed to hesitate for a minute. "Alright, well. I'm Mia and if you need anything, just call my name - I'll be around." She said as she walked off.

"She's annoying is what she is..." Draco muttered. Ginny almost smirked as she looked at him. He thought everyone was annoying - including her. That's just part of who Draco was.

A few minutes later Mia came back with two glasses of water, a bowl of piping hot soup, and a plate.

"Fries. On the house." She said, "You've gotta eat something, you look like you haven't eaten in days." Draco shot an 'I told you so' look at Ginny, who actually did smirk this time. She couldn't help it.

"Thanks," she said quietly, reaching for a fry. Mia smiled warmly as Draco looked at her surprised. She smiled at him - she hadn't even spoken that much since they left Hogwarts.

Mia lingered for a second as she began to eat, and Draco took a sip of his soup. He promptly spit it out, all over Ginny.

"Draco!" She cried.

"What is this!" He cried, glaring at Mia.

"What the hell!" Ginny kept going, grabbing for a few napkins that were on the table to clean herself off. Mia looked affronted,

"What do you mean 'what is this'?"

"It's certainly not soup."

"Of course it is," she said, looking at him as if he were crazy.

"Draco, just eat it." Ginny urged quietly.

"A monkey makes better soup than this!" Ginny blushed at his outburst. It's not like they had enough money to go out and buy anything of value, they had less than twenty dollars left.

"Well, you can call Campbell's and tell them that, but until you make your own, that's what I've got." Mia commented sarcastically.

"Campbell's?" Draco questioned.

"Yeah - it's from a can." Mia said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Why? Would you like to make your own? Kitchen's right over there." She spat as she nodded toward the door next to them.

"Frankly? Yes. I would. I'm starving." Ginny was still blushing, and picking at the fries Mia'd given them, trying to ignore Draco's outburst. She couldn't understand why bad soup was such a big deal. She knew he'd been rich, and everything had been at his fingertips, but that wasn't the case anymore. That, and it was just soup!

"Fine!" Mia snapped. "Follow me!" Ginny nearly let her head hit the table as Draco and Mia glared at each other.

"Draco, stop it." She urged quietly. This was utterly absurd. They were in an unfamiliar place, running away from everything and he had the nerve to argue with people?

"Red, I'm starved, and all I want is some soup. If she's not going to make it, I will." He said quickly to her before turning to Mia. "And I'm not going to pay for it if I make it."

"If you're making more than one bowl, that's fine. I'll just sell the rest." She shrugged, still obviously very unhappy with Draco. Ginny buried her face in her hands, shaking her head.

"You are such a prat sometimes..." Ginny said, so that he - and anyone else who happened to be listening - could hear. Mia watched them closely, it seemed like she was assessing the situation. Draco scowled at her, and Mia led him off. Ginny sighed and took a sip of her water. She grabbed another fry before she heard the door slam open.

"How do you not have any carrots? What kind of place is this!" Draco cried. Mia was mad at him, but Ginny was actually trying to choke back some laughter. This whole situation was utterly absurd, and she didn't know why Draco wanted the Chicken Noodle Soup so badly.

"This is a diner, carrots aren't exactly popular. Here. Here's five dollars. Go buy your precious carrots." Mia spat as she shoved a five dollar bill into his hands.

"Do I look like I'm from around here?" He spat back.

"The market's down the street, it'd be impossible for you to get lost." Mia shot, glaring at Draco. He looked at Ginny, who was still eating, and stormed out.

"What?" She said after the door slammed shut. "Where'd he go?" She panicked - he hadn't left her side in the three days they'd been gone. She stood up to run after him.

"Hey," Mia said, catching her arm. "He'll be back." Ginny gave her a scared look, but Mia reciprocated with a comforting pat on her arm. Ginny sat back down and held onto her glass of water for dear life. Mia watched her, and sat across from her, where Draco had been.

"You know," she began, "You grip that glass any tighter it might shatter." Ginny blushed.

"Sorry..." she said quietly, reaching for another fry and reluctantly letting go of the glass.

"It's ok, I've got others." She said with a smile. She looked at Ginny appraisingly. "So what's Holden Caulfield over there got over you?"

"Who?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Holden Caulfield - that guy. What's he got on you?"

"You mean Draco?"

"Sure, if that's his name."

"Why'd you call him Holden...?"

"Haven't you ever read The Catcher in the Rye?" Ginny shook her head. "Oh. Well he's just a character. Bit of a jerk, if you ask me. Pushes the limits, arrogant, superior, ran away from school..." Ginny froze. Mia noticed, but seemed to let it slide. "So what's he got over you?"

"I don't know what you mean..." Ginny said quietly.

"Alright, if you say so. But if he's...you know...hurting you..." Ginny looked up, almost alarmed.

"What? No, of course not. Draco would never..."

"Alright, alright. I just had a friend once. Acted like you are now, that's all." Mia said, backing down. "So what brings you to New Jersey?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Is that where we are?"

"Did you miss the huge 'Welcome to New Jersey' signs hanging all over everywhere?" Mia asked, amused. Ginny smiled,

"I guess we did."

"Alright then, yes. Welcome to New Jersey." She said with a cheeky smile. Ginny smiled again,

"Thanks,"

"So where are you from? Not America, I can tell that much."

"Doesn't matter...We can't go back." Ginny's face fell and she looked down.

"Hakuna Matata!" Mia cried with a smile. "What a wonderful phrase!" Ginny looked at her like she was crazy. "Sorry, my kid's on a bit of a Disney kick." She smiled and laughed. When Ginny's look didn't change, Mia looked at her in disbelief, "Oh, come on. You can't tell me you didn't do that on purpose."

"Do what?"

"Refrenced The Lion King."

"The what?" Mia just shook her head.

"I guess you didn't do that on purpose." she muttered. "Well, you're welcome here in Jersey. Except it might be difficult finding a place to stay before September - shoobies and all."

"Shoobies?"

"Yeah...nevermind." Ginny nodded. So they were welcome to stay, that was a nice thought. Ginny reached out and ate the last fry off the plate.

Mia stood up and walked back into the kitchen, carrying the empty plate off with her. She came back a few minutes later with a full one, to meet Draco as he walked in.

"What took you so long, Holden?" She asked.

"What?" he asked confused.

"She calls you Holden." Ginny clarified with a smirk. Draco looked at her in surprise, half because she knew what was going on, half because she was talking.

"Yeah, well...I got lost."

"On the way to the market?" Mia asked amusedly. Draco glared at her. "Right, right." she said, backing down. "Fine, I'll show you where everything else is, and you can get started on your precious soup." Draco followed her into the kitchen, and she emerged a few minutes later, muttering to herself about something. Ginny smirked, Draco could have that effect on people.

"Jeez, you'd think he'd never seen a stove before." She said as she sat back down across from Ginny.

"He probably hasn't." She said matter-of-factly, "I mean, where we come from, he's really rich. They had...servants and stuff." She said uncomfortably, trying to find a good substitute word for 'house elves'. Mia looked at her like she was crazy,

"Are you kidding?" Ginny smirked and shook her head.

"That boy hasn't worked a day in his life."

"So why'd you leave?" Ginny's face fell, and the color drained. "Sorry," Mia said quickly, "That was probably over the line." Ginny took a deep breath and started eating more fries. "Jeez, you really do look like you haven't eaten in days."

"I haven't." Ginny said quietly.

"What? Well why didn't you say so? That's a horse of a different color!" Mia cried, standing up. She grinned down at Ginny, as if she'd just made a really funny joke, but Ginny didn't get it.

"Huh?"

"You can't tell me you've never seen The Wizard of Oz." She said in disbelief. Ginny just shrugged and shook her head.

"Oh my goodness...you poor, culturally deprived thing. Don't they have culture back where you come from? Movies? Books? Music? ANYthing?"

"Well, sure, but...we come from a pretty...secluded place...we just have different stuff."

"But The Wizard of Oz is a classic!" Ginny shrugged and Mia just smiled. "Whatever. What do you want to eat?" Ginny looked up at her,

"These are more than enough, thank you..." she said quietly.

"Oh, come on. I'm a mother, and I would never let my son eat just french fries for lunch. Cheeseburger? Sandwich? Eggs? Breakfast food? Chicken Fingers? What?" Ginny shrugged,

"We don't have much money, really..." She shifted uncomfortably.

"Yeah, well. I like you. I don't know why, but I'm a good judge of character, and I like you. Holden, back there, though, is gonna hafta make some darn good soup for me to sell..." Ginny smirked.

"Whatever you can spare, I'd be grateful for." She said, looking down at her hands.

"Cheeseburger it is." Mia said with a nod, disappearing back into the kitchen. Ginny smiled, and sat there alone. She looked out the window, watching all the people walk by. Groups of teenagers, families, people of all shapes and sizes, walking by like everything in the world was perfect - this was a great place. And Mia...Mia was being so nice. She was odd, but she was nice.

Draco wandered briskly out of the kitchen and sat back down, scowling.

"She's impossible." He muttered. Ginny couldn't stifle her giggle. "She is!" He defended himself.

"She's only being stubborn because you are." Ginny said knowingly. "You have that effect on people."

"I do not." Draco said, looking affronted. Ginny smirked again,

"You do." She said, nodding. She took a deep breath and looked at him longingly. He softened and smiled back at her. "I like it here, Draco." She said softly. "We're in New Jersey, did you know that?" He shook his head,

"No, I missed it. But you like it?" She nodded slowly, trying to read him for a response. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he surveyed his surroundings, and looked outside. You could almost see the ocean through the window, it was about five blocks away. "I suppose we have to stop sometime." He said quietly, still staring outside.

"Draco...we're away now, we don't have to run anymore. We're free." She said softly, but firmly.

"Freedom's just another word for 'nothin left to lose'." A confident voice interrupted. Mia walked over to them with a cheeseburger on a plate, and placed it in front of Ginny, who looked at it hungrily.

"Thank you," Ginny said grabbing the sandwich.

"What did you say?" Draco asked, confused. Mia looked at him,

"Janis Joplin." She said, seemingly trying to fathom the pair's lack of knowledge.

"What is she talking about?" Draco asked Ginny. She shrugged,

"She's been doing that quite a lot this afternoon."

"I said, 'Freedom's just another word for 'nothin left to lose'. It's from a song...by Janis Joplin." She said slowly, as if talking to a child. She eventually gave up and shook her head, disappointed. Ginny giggled,

"C'mon, give us a break," she said playfully, "we've had a hard few days."

"You two should stick around here, you have a lot to learn." Mia said matter-of-factly. Ginny looked hopefully at Draco,

"Can we?" She asked softly. Draco shifted uncomfortably,

"I suppose." Ginny smiled genuinely at him, and he softened. "Sure." He stood up and went back into the kitchen. Mia sat back down in his seat.

"So where are you gonna stay?" She asked. Ginny shrugged,

"I dunno...I guess we'll just...figure something out."

"There are some cheap hotels a few miles away." Mia suggested. Ginny nodded,

"Yeah...thanks..." Just then, a boy of about six bounded in.

"Mom! Mmmoooommmm! SCHOOL'S OVER!" He yelled to the whole diner. Everyone looked up from their papers and food and smiled. Choruses of

"Hey, Mike!"

"Hey, bud!"

"Congrats, Mike!" Rang out through the place as the boy beamed at the customers.

"Hey, buddy! Over here!" Mia called to the boy. He practically skipped to where they were and beamed at her, then noticed Ginny and moved closer to her. "So, school's out?" Mike looked up at her and nodded, a grin crossing his face again. "Wow, you're done a whole year. I can hardly believe it!" He turned back to Ginny,

"Who's that, Mom?" he asked Mia. Ginny smiled warmly.

"My name's Ginny, what's yours?"

"Mike!" He said proudly.

"Hi, Mike." Ginny smiled. Draco waltzed out of the kitchen at that moment, to hear Mike greet Ginny with an enthusiastic 'hi'. He looked startled, with a bowl of soup in hand. He froze and stared at the situation. Ginny looked up at him and smiled.

"Holden," Mia began, "This is my son, Michael." Draco's expression soured at his new nickname, but then he smiled down at the little boy. Ginny was pretty sure that they were safe, considering the boy's mother was right there, and Draco wouldn't dare terrify a kid with his mother standing not two feet away.

Mia stood up and gave Draco his chair back, and went off to refill everyone's water and coffee. Draco sat down and started on his soup, and Mike pulled up a chair to watch them. Ginny giggled, but Draco gave him a shifty glance.

"Can I help you?" Draco drawled.

"Be nice..." Ginny warned, but neither boy seemed to hear her.

"What are you eating?" He asked curiously.

"Chicken Noodle Soup."

"In June?" Mike asked, and Ginny giggled.

"Yes," Draco said stiffly, "in June."

"Aren't you hot?"

"Not particularly."

"Oh." Mike said, "Can I have some?" Draco looked up, surprised, but nodded as he got up to get Mike a bowl of soup. Mike smiled happily as he turned to Ginny.

"Why do you two talk funny?" He asked with the same curious expression on his face. She smiled, his childhood innocence made her melt.

"We're not from around here."

"Oh...then where are you from?"

"England," she responded, but he didn't seem to know what that was, so she clarified a bit, "It's across the ocean."

"Wow," he said in amazement, "You've been across the ocean?" Ginny nodded and smiled. "So why are you here?" She smiled sadly at him,

"We had to leave there, so we decided to come here."

"Why'd you leave?" Ginny's heart broke as she looked at the little boy. His brown eyes were clouded with interest and curiosity, but how was she supposed to explain evil, death and destruction to a six year old?

"There were some...bad people back there...mean people...and we couldn't stay."

"Oh," he said sadly. "So you left home?" She nodded uncomfortably. "I'm sorry...that's really sad." He said matter-of-factly. Draco came back with a bowl of soup.

"Your Mum said it was alright, Michael, so I got you a whole bowl." He said, setting the bowl down in front of Mike.

"Thanks!" Mike said, as he dove into his soup, completely forgetting about the conversation. That made Ginny a bit more comfortable, she really didn't want to talk about it. "Wow! This is really good!" Mike exclaimed after a few sips. "What brand is it?"

"I made it, actually." Draco said proudly, but without the normal air of arrogance and superiority. Mike looked up at him in amazement.

"Really? You made it? Wow. It's really really good." He said, matter-of-factly, before eating some more. Draco smiled down at him.

"Thanks," he said softly. Ginny stared at him as if seeing him for the first time, and when he noticed he just smirked.

"That's more like it." She said, feeling a bit better.

The afternoon faded, and Mike had more soup - he seemed to really like it. Draco sat back and watched the people pass by, and Ginny finally got up the courage to stand up and stretch her own legs. She walked around the small diner, and found Mia at the counter.

"So when does your shift end?" She asked conversationally. Mia snorted,

"It doesn't. It's just me here these days."

"Surely you can't run this place yourself," Ginny said in disbelief. Mia just nodded,

"Yeah. A few weeks ago...about a month and a half now, my friend Jackie...well...her, um...dad got sick, so she had to go back to California. Ever since then it's just been me and Michael here, all day every day." She said sadly.

"What about Mike's dad?" Mia's face fell,

"My husband died in a car accident about five years ago."

"I'm so sorry, if there's anything we can do..." Mia shook her head,

"No, it's alright. Really, you didn't know. And you don't have to worry about doing anything, me and Michael are ok."

"We could help...I mean, it's not like Draco and I have any place to go, or anything to do." The wheels in Ginny's head were turning, and she was fishing around inside her for a remnance of that Gryffindor courage she used to possess...they needed this. She and Draco needed something, and this could be it.

"No, you don't have to do that."

"What if we want to?" Ginny said with a bit more confidence. Mia looked over Ginny's shoulder as Ginny heard a squeal come from behind her. She turned around to see Draco and Mike talking animatedly, some of Mike's soup spilling out onto the table. Ginny smiled.

"If it's alright with you," she began slowly, "I mean...I really like it around here. I've never been here before. We need something to do, at least one of us needs a job so we can earn some money. We could help you and Mike out - you wouldn't have to worry so much about this place, you could spend more time with him. He's only this big once." She smiled hopefully.

"Well," Mia began reluctantly, "He does make a mean soup." Ginny giggled,

"I don't even know where that came from, I swear." She said seriously. Mia smiled.

"Alright, fine. You got me." Ginny grinned and turned around,

"Hey Draco! Come here for a second." she called. Draco looked up and walked over to where the two girls were.

"Do you wanna work here?" Mia asked him directly. Draco couldn't hide his surprise as Mike came up beside him.

"Yeah! That would be so cool!" Mike exclaimed, jumping up and down. Ginny laughed at his antics, as he began to pull on Draco's sleeve. "C'moooonn, stay! You make the best soup ever!" Draco smirked down at the little boy before turning to Ginny.

"This is your doing, isn't it?" He drawled. She shrugged,

"It might be." He smirked and turned back to Mia. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, and Ginny saw it. He took a deep breath and looked around, it seemed like he was trying to decide something and wasn't happy about it. "Draco Malfoy," Ginny interjected seriously, "you will not let your stupid pride get in the way. Not this time." Draco looked at her, surprised, but smirked nonetheless. Mia looked confused, and Mike was still tugging at Draco's sleeve.

"Fine. If you'll have me," he said casually, in response to her question. She smirked and shook her head,

"It'll throw me into an early grave, but I happen to like Gin, here." Draco smirked,

"I have yet to meet someone who doesn't." He commented off-handedly. Ginny smiled and blushed, giggling a little bit.

"So what are you two up to now?" Ginny shrugged and Draco put his hands in his pockets, shifting uncomfortably. "I would give you the grand tour of the town, but I gotta stay here."

"We can stay, too," Ginny offered.

"Mooommm, I'm booorrredd." Mike whined. Draco smirked down at him. He did look very bored.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I don't know what else to do."

"Can I go upstairs and watch TV?" He asked, suddenly lighting up.

"Sure, if you want. You want to show Gin, here, The Lion King? She's never seen it." Mike turned to Ginny and gaped openly at her.

"You've never seen The Lion King?" He asked, and she giggled and nodded. "Oh boy. Well. I have to show you, it's the coolest. thing. ever. Simba's a lion, and he's the main character, and his dad dies --"

"Michael! Don't give away the whole movie!" Mia chided playfully. Ginny smiled,

"How 'bout you show me? And Draco can stay down here and get to know his way around."

"Have you seen The Lion King?" Mike asked Draco, and Draco shook his head,

" 'fraid I haven't."

"Mom." Mike started seriously, "They have GOT to see The Lion King. Both of them." Mia laughed at her son and nodded,

"But I've gotta talk to Draco for a little while, ok, buddy?" He sighed dramatically and turned back to Draco.

"Fine. But you hafta see it soon, promise?" Draco chuckled at the little boy.

"Promise." He replied, ruffling the boy's hair. Mike dragged Ginny upstairs, where he showed her their little office and sitting room with a TV. He then showed her the box of the movie, the TV, and how to work everything. Ginny sat up in the sitting room with Michael, watching The Lion King until it was over. She was a bit afraid of leaving Mia and Draco in a room together without a mediator, but she knew that he knew that they needed this pretty badly, and Mia was being more than generous.

The night came to a close early, so that Mia could close up and get Mike home and to bed, and Ginny and Draco walked out toward the ocean.

"So is she still impossible?" Ginny asked amusedly.

"Who? Mia?" Ginny nodded, linking her arm in Draco's as they walked along the beach. "Yes. But I suppose I can deal with that." Ginny giggled,

"Thank you," she said softly. He turned to her and kissed her forehead.

"Of course." They walked in silence along the shoreline, watching the waves roll in and out.

They stopped awhile later and sat on a sand dune. Draco pulled his invisibility cloak out of his bag and threw it around them. Ginny leaned in close to him and rested her head on his chest. She smiled as she let the sounds of the beach fill her head, washing away everything in the world. They laid back, and began to fall asleep. Just before she did, though, she took a deep breath and spoke.

"You know what, Draco?" she said softly, sleepily. He grunted in reply, and she echoed a feeling that, yesterday, she wasn't sure she'd ever have again..."I think we're gonna make it after all..."