Here's Chapter 7! Please enjoy!


The rest of her trip in Granada went by as eventfully as a tourist's trip can. Although they had a late start, Ginny and Maddie ended up looking at the other sites littered around the city. Compared to the Alhambra, the other tourist sites in the city were almost deserted, hinting its popularity, or lack of. To Ginny, however, these underappreciated places tend to hold a special place in her heart. Most people like looking at pretty, big things. Ginny does to, but she thinks that sometimes these hidden gems tend to have a certain charm that just inspires Ginny even more. Trying to find the beauty in the smallest things, if you will.

Aside from that, she and Maddie also went on a day trip to Sierra Nevada, a mountain range in Granada. While Ginny is not an avid fan of hills and mountains, even she couldn't deny the beauty of nature. On the last day, Maddie and Ginny just enjoyed the city one last time, before doing international apparition back to England.

All-in-all, it was a good trip, albeit a business trip. However, she did feel that Maddie was acting a little strange during the latter half of their trip. Usually chatty, Maddie kept stuttering when Ginny tried to start a conversation and throwing side glances at Ginny when she thinks Ginny doesn't notice it. Ginny has an idea, but she's almost sure that it's probably not that. It couldn't be. It was pretty late when Draco and she arrived in the hotel that night.

Speaking of Draco, after having food service in her hotel room, Draco left with a simple goodbye and good luck thrown her way. That threw her a bit off guard, but she reminded herself that this was all there was in their so-called relationship. However, realizing that she wanted him to stay longer seems to throw Ginny in a fit of frustration. After a long and refreshing shower, Ginny rid her thoughts of everything related to Draco Malfoy.

Now, three weeks later, Ginny found herself again, alone in her flat. She is currently nursing a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon as she read one of the books she's been setting aside because of work. She never gets this much time to herself without an owl pecking on her window or an article that's screaming to be written. Tonight, it was just her, her book, and a glass of wine. A perfect evening.

However, while she was in the middle of her reading, she heard the floo change and the next thing she saw as she looked up was Luna dusting the soot off from her robes. Ginny put down her book and wine, and stood up to give Luna an embrace.

"Luna, I didn't expect to see you tonight," Ginny said in greeting as they broke apart from their embrace.

Luna merely smiled and looked around Ginny's flat. "It seems like some things have changed since we last saw each other."

This confused Ginny. Instead of imploring further, she led Luna to the small counter in her kitchen. "Would you like anything to drink?" She offered as she opened her cabinets to get a glass for Luna.

"No, that's not necessary," Luna said in her dreamy voice. "I only came here because I wanted to see how you are. It's been almost a month and a half since we last met."

Ginny returned to the counter and sat on the stool beside Luna. "I'm so sorry I haven't been in contact. I've just been swamped with work and with this new project, I can barely get some time off."

Luna just nodded and smiled at Ginny. "It's okay, you're a busy woman."

Ginny summoned her glass of wine, before offering a drink to Luna again, which she turned down again. As Ginny sipped her wine, Luna spoke again.

"So how's Draco these days?"

Ginny choked on her wine and started coughing like her life depended on it. Luna reached for a kitchen towel on the counter and offered it to Ginny, who took it. When Ginny's coughs subsided, she looked back at Luna again who maintained the same dreamy look on her face.

"What are you talking about Luna?"

This time, it was Luna's turn to be confused. "Aren't you working with him?"

Ginny blushed lightly. Of course. "Oh. Yeah, I guess he's doing well. We rarely interact so I'm not so sure," she lied easily.

Except for George recently, nobody knows about her little "interactions" with Draco. Not even Luna, her best friend.

Luna just smiled and nodded before continuing. "You do look different, Ginny. I can see quite a few Nargles surrounding you right now too. You ought to be careful, they might take something from you."

My sanity, maybe. Ginny thought, but she just smiled at Luna.

"There's nothing new. I'm still the same old me."

"You know, there's nothing wrong with changes as long as you accept it and let it run its course." Luna said with a smile.

This hit a nerve in Ginny. Is my life really still the same? Instantly, an image of Draco's sleeping face flashed in her mind. Before she can shake it off, Luna stood up and made a line towards the fireplace.

"Are you leaving already?" Ginny asked as she, too, stood from the stool to follow Luna to the crate.

Luna looked back at Ginny again. "You know, I'm always here for you if there's anything bothering you. I just wanted to let you know that."

Ginny smiled at her friend and gave her another hug. "Thanks, Luna. I'll keep that in mind."

Luna broke from the embrace and took a handful of Floo Powder. She took one last look at Ginny and gave her a smile before the emerald flames engulfed her frame.

An owl pecked at her window as Ginny cleaned around her flat. Since she hasn't really been spending a lot of time in her humble abode, she's neglected cleaning for a little while now.

Ginny dropped the shirt she was intending to put in the laundry basket on the back of the sofa before opening the window to let the owl in. The owl, regal and black, perched on Ginny's work desk, holding a thick, fancy-looking envelope on its beak. She took the letter and gave it a few treats before it went on its way. As the owl nibbled on the treats, Ginny opened the heavy envelope. It was an invitation.

"We cordially invite you to the annual Spring Ball, hosted by Malfoy Hotels and Resorts Inc."

Ginny read the invitation further. The Spring Ball is an event to acknowledge and to thank the stakeholders and partners of Malfoy Hotels and Resorts. I don't see why I should go, Ginny thought as she looked at the back of the invitation if there was anything else. When there was none, she returned the invitation back in the envelope and put it in her desk drawer. Then she resumed her cleaning.

It turns out that the EIC, the travel editor, as well as Maddie got the invite, too. When Ginny arrived in the office the following Monday, Maddie immediately bombarded her with the invite.

"I assume you got one, too. You're going, right?"

Sighing, Ginny went to her table to drop off her things before addressing Maddie.

"I don't think so. I don't think it's awfully necessary to dress to the nines. Besides, I'm not exactly a partner. Just an external hire," Ginny said as she sat on her chair to begin working. However, Maddie continued talking.

"But, don't you think it would be fun?" Maddie said, trying to persuade Ginny.

Without looking away from her parchment, Ginny shrugged. "It's not really my cup of tea. But, you should go if you want," she said, giving Maddie a small smile before returning to her work.

Feeling defeated, Maddie left Ginny's side and went back to her own seat across Ginny. She really wants to go, but she'd feel awkward if her boss wasn't there. She sneaked a glance at Ginny, her mind going back to what she witnessed weeks ago between her boss and their business partner.

*Flashback*

Maddie was on her way back to her room after grabbing something to eat and drink at a local 24-hour store. She stayed in bed until well into the evening and, now that she's feeling better, she found her stomach growling, desperate for food.

She has just opened and made a step into her room when her attention caught voices exiting the elevator and into her floor. One of the voices sounded like Ginny's, so instead of closing the door behind her, Maddie peeked her head between the door and the door frame to see who it was. Unsurprisingly, Ginny rounded the corner going to the opposite side of the corridor where her room was located. Thinking that she should go to Ginny to let her know she's feeling better, Maddie was about to step out of the room again until she saw a man with platinum blonde hair trailing after her boss.

There's no mistaking that hair. But, why is he here and following Ginny? Maddie wondered, unaware of the events that are about to unfold.

She saw Ginny stop in front of her room, getting her keys, as Draco Malfoy, their business partner, stopped too close behind Ginny, sweeping her hair and started trailing kisses down her neck. Maddie's eyes widened into saucers at what she's witnessing.

Ginny…and Malfoy? What the hell is going on? Maddie frantically searched her brain for any instances of interaction between her boss and their partner, but she couldn't think of one. As far as she knows, Ginny hasn't dated in a while. Have they been together long? Is this why Ginny decided to work with his company?

Maddie's thoughts ran with an endless stream of questions as she continued to look at what's happening on the opposite side. Ginny appeared to say something, but as soon as she opened the door, she stepped in and pulled Draco Malfoy in.

When Ginny's door closed, Maddie closed her own as well and leaned on the door with her hands on her chest. She can't fathom how her own boss is currently sleeping with their business partner. But, as far as Maddie is concerned, she knows that what her boss does in her personal life is none of her business. Suddenly realizing that she was hungry, Maddie decided to sit on the chair by the window and have her late meal.

*end of flashback*

Now, Maddie's wondering if the reason Ginny doesn't want to go is because of Draco Malfoy. But if they're in a relationship, wouldn't they want to use this as an opportunity to get together without it being too obvious? Maddie decided to turn her attention back to her work instead of her boss' personal life.

On the other hand, Ginny is trying to work, but her mind keeps on drifting back to the Spring Ball. She can tell Maddie wants to go. After all, balls don't come by often in wizarding London. But Ginny just never fancied these kinds of events. She would rather use her free time for me time or other things of importance rather than for playing dress up and having awful amounts of make-up plastered on her face. Besides, she does not need any more reasons to see Draco. A part in her knows that she should avoid any run-ins with the blonde man. It's becoming a little more complicated recently and she can't bring herself up to think about it when she has a million other things to think about already. All she knows is one of them should draw the line and, right now, she's the one who should do it.

Shaking her head a bit, Ginny shoved all thoughts away and returned to her work.

Ginny sat on her kitchen counter, a glass of red wine on her hand and a frustrated glint in her eye. 30 minutes before work ended, the travel editor called her and Maddie into his office. Thinking it was another assignment, Ginny more so than Maddie was surprised to hear that the EIC has already responded to the invitation and said that all four of them were attending. Ginny tried to reason her way out, but the travel editor just said that there's nothing he can do about it.

So, now, she's nursing a glass to alleviate her frustration. One thing that Ginny hates the most is having her choice taken away from her. That pisses the shit out of her. But even more so, now she has to attend, dress up and see Draco Malfoy. Normally, Ginny doesn't mind, but ever since the year before and Granada, it felt like something has shifted, and to be honest, she's scared.

If she allowed herself to think about it, one of the reasons she's been avoiding dating anybody is because she can't trust herself to prioritize someone else over her work. For that matter, she can't trust anyone to understand her passion in her career. The last time she dated, it didn't work out so well. Her career was just taking flight and she was having more assignments. While she basked in her career's takeoff, her previous boyfriend didn't feel the same. Eventually, when things seemed like they weren't gonna slow down for her, he made her choose. Unfortunately for him, she chose her career. After that, she decided to take a break from dating until she's found more stable footing with her career. Ironically, she also realized that as long as she's a travel journalist, stable won't come so easily. So when she'll be able to find more time and headspace for dating is just as a mystery to her as it is for everyone else. That's why her arrangement with Draco was, or is, appealing to her. There was no commitment, but she still gets to satiate her needs. She is only human after all. However, recent developments between them seem to invite a whole lot of confusion, especially with her own feelings and convictions towards their relationship and towards Draco himself.

Ginny took a long sip of her wine until it was empty. After placing the glass on the sink with a self-cleaning charm, Ginny went to grab her coat and flooed away.

"Woah, Gin! Slow down!" George cautioned his sister while attempting to take her third glass of firewhiskey from Ginny.

George was surprised to see his sister appear in his living room as he was enjoying a nice quiet Friday night with Angelina on the couch doing things. Or at least, on the way to doing things. He almost told off his sister for interrupting when she saw her looking less put together than usual. Sensing an inner turmoil, George and Angelina decided to take a rain check on their previous engagement. While Angelina made her way to the bedroom, George ushered Ginny to the kitchen counter and got them some mead that he had stashed somewhere. They just drank in silence until Ginny demanded for something stronger, and, now, here they are.

Ginny kept a firm grip on her glass while her head drooped forward. George has only seen her like this once before-after she broke up with her ex-boyfriend from when she just started her career as a travel journalist. Sighing, George turned to his sister and rested his right arm on the counter.

"Gin. What's going on?"

Ginny raised her head and looked at George with drunken eyes. She stared for a few seconds before returning her attention to her drink and taking a sip.

"I have to go to Draco Malfoy's Spring Ball," She said deadpan.

"Okay… How is that a problem?"

"Draco Malfoy is the problem." At this confession, Ginny knocked back her glass, slamming the glass a little too forcefully on the countertop.

George cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

Ginny continued staring at her drink as she spoke. "I haven't been completely honest with myself for a while now." She took another drink. "I always tell myself that I don't need more, but I always find myself gravitating towards it anyway." Another drink. "I reason with myself that it's nothing, it's just a fleeting moment, a little taste of pleasure. But, there's too many coincidences in the last 10 years that it's starting to pile up and it's making me think, 'if there are these many coincidences, then doesn't that mean that fate, destiny, whatever is finding ways to bring us together?'" At this Ginny breathed deeply and took another sip.

Ever since his sister admitted to having a tryst with the blonde aristocrat, George has been left wondering how and why it ever happened. However, he never really got a chance to know more about it, mostly due to Ginny's unending busy schedule. At the same time, he knows to respect Ginny's decisions in life, so even if the older brother instinct kicks in, he tries to rally it in for her sake and his, to be quite frank.

George took a small sip of his own firewhiskey. Knowing not to prod his drunk sister, he waited until Ginny spoke again. When she did, she turned to George.

"I've been trying to figure things out by myself that I'm starting to get lost in it," she said with small sad smile.

George returned it with his own. "You don't have to, but you know that you can talk to me, right?"

Ginny got up, leaving her drink, and moved towards the couch. George followed his sister to the couch and plopped beside her as she hugged her knees to her chest and rested her left cheek on her knees.

"Remember when I went back to Hogwarts after the war and I told you that I made a friend?" Ginny asked lightly, her eyes trailed to the opposite wall.

George nodded. "Yeah. Was it Malfoy?"

Ginny sighed. "Yeah. It was really strange, but, at that time, everybody was picking up the pieces and we all needed somebody. It just so happened that we were that to each other."

***Flashback***

Ginny couldn't sleep as it has been since the last few months. The war just ended a few months ago and people are still adjusting and trying to make things normal again. Only, it will never be the same.

She was walking towards the Quidditch pitch. Usually, she'll take a round in the lake, but recently, people have been finding comfort in it as she does, so she opted to go straight to the pitch instead. As she was on her way to the second to the last row of seats, she noticed that someone was sitting on the far side of the stands, close to the turrets. Despite the moon's luminescence, the figure was still draped in shadows, making it hard for Ginny to make out its identity. Whether the other person noticed her or not, she doesn't know. Not wanting to interrupt another person's ruminations, Ginny went on her way.

Whenever Ginny goes on her nightly walks, she usually ends up thinking about what happened in the war-the fighting, losing Colin, losing Fred, the rubbles around the castle. She never really gave herself enough time and space to think about these things, wanting to be just like everyone else, wanting everything to just be normal. So, she takes these sleepless nights as an opportunity to deal with it. It's kind of ironic that the very thing that keeps her awake is the only thing that can bring her peace.

After an hour, Ginny decided to head back. Coincidentally, the mysterious figure also decided to head back as well. When the figure stepped out of the shadows, Ginny first recognized the almost white hair and realized who it was. She sees him every now and then during meals and occasionally in between classes. She heard about his continuation and didn't really know what to think of it. She just thought he'd disappear after everything that happened. He's been subject to ostracization, but he doesn't seem to have a problem with it since it seems that he tries to walk around the halls as if he's trying to blend in with the wall instead of his usual strut and pompousness.

Before long, they crossed each others paths, her on the way down and him on the way out of the row. He looked up, surprise in his face, hinting that he didn't notice her presence earlier. Not knowing what to say, Draco looked away, his face going rigid. Ginny, on the other hand, continued staring, thinking. Should she say something? Should she go? But there was something in Malfoy that Ginny recognized. That feeling of uncertainty, confusion, anxiety, and loneliness all rolled into one. Mustering up the courage, Ginny spoke.

"Aren't you cold?"

Draco, startled to hear her voice, whipped his head towards Ginny's direction. He looked at her with suspicion. "Don't you have better things to do, Weasley?" He said snarkily, but somehow it has lost a bit of its edge.

Ginny continued staring. "Yeah, I should go to bed. And you should too," she said unwaveringly.

Finding the youngest Weasley confusing, "Don't patronize me, Weasley. I know my place. You don't need to shove it in my face," he said with a bit of anger spilling through. He made a move past Ginny, but Ginny's voice stopped him again.

"We're all broken. We're all in the same boat. I don't see why anyone is better than others," she said quietly. Draco let her words sink in. Without saying anything, he moved past Ginny and away from the pitch.

Even though their first interaction was tense and cold, eventually, they found themselves in the same situation a few more times after that. When it was apparent that neither of them were willing to change their location, at some point, they got used to each other's presence in the pitch. Soon, Ginny and Draco started acknowledging each other more until they created an unusual bond, using each other as an outlet for their sorrows. Even in the cold winter, they continued meeting in the pitch, casting warming spells on them to keep themselves from freezing. They never told anyone about their rendezvous. They also never brought their friendship past the pitch. What happens in the pitch, stays in the pitch.

However, one night in April, Ginny came to the pitch distraught. There were tears streaming down her face, her eyes red, mouth trembling. Upon seeing this, Draco knew it would be heavy. They sat in silence, letting Ginny bawl her eyes out, muttering to herself every now and then. When she noticeably got a bit calmer, Draco looked at her. Her tears were still streaming, but there seems to be a determination on her face.

After allowing herself to take deep breaths to calm herself down, she finally looked at Draco.

"I need to forget, even if it's just for a while." She said with a hardness in her voice.

Draco kept his face blank, but couldn't resist asking, "What can I do?"

Ginny simply said, "Kiss me."

Before he can process what she just said, he felt his body move on its own accord. His lips found Ginny's and soon theuywere exchanging heated kisses, tongues battling for dominance. Draco can still feel the wetness of Ginny's tears on his own face, so he made a move to pull back, but Ginny held his shoulders to stop him.

"No. Just, please. Help me forget."

Hearing the desperation in her voice, Draco nodded and proceeded to attack Ginny's lips with vigor, Ginny returning it just as much. Under the cold early spring moonlight, Ginny and Draco slept together for the first time. Since then, they found comfort in each other's arms, even for just a few hours, before they have to face reality again. Even when they left Hogwarts, almost certain that they'd never see each other again, they'd run into each other and end up in a tangled mess of kisses and passion. What started as a way to escape became a release of pent up emotions and unbridled passion.

***End of flashback***

Not believing his own ears, George leaned back on the sofa in defeat. He never thought of his sister as someone who engages in these types of relationships, much more so for at least 10 years. How his sister can manage a cool and calm façade whenever people asked about her love life, he doesn't know. He really didn't have a clue.

Ginny now has her chin propped up on her knees, looking ahead. She knows her brother has his own qualms about Draco Malfoy, but he's the only one she can trust about this secret of hers.

"So, you two have been…meeting up… since your last year in Hogwarts?" George asked, breaking Ginny's reverie.

"Yes." She answered curtly.

"What about when you were dating that bloke?"

She answered with the same monotonous tone, "It wasn't hard to keep track of our dating lives, so when we do see each other, it's just a quick hello and goodbye. We know enough to respect each other's boundaries."

George couldn't wrap his head around the whole thing. It's so casual that he still can't imagine Ginny being involved in it. Voicing out the question that's been nagging on his mind, he sat back up and looked at Ginny.

"Then why don't you two just get together?"

Ginny looked at him this time. "It will never work out."

"But you're here moping. Why?"

Ginny looked front again and sighed. "That's what I'm trying to figure out, too."

Like that Friday never happened, Ginny went about her days as usual. She did her work with the Prophet and also went to Granada two more times to do her job for Malfoy's company. Before she knew it, it was already December.

She usually do lunch as quick as possible, but, today, she's making an exception. Ginny entered the diner and scanned the room. Upon seeing the light blonde head facing the opposite direction, she approached the table as quickly as she could.

"Luna, I'm sorry to keep you waiting!" Ginny greeted her friend as she sat on the bench across Luna. Luna, who was reading the Quibbler, put the paper down and smiled at her friend. "No worries, Ginny. I was just reading about a new breed of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks that they found in an island in the Atlantic. Isn't it fascinating?"

Ginny smiled at her friend. She can never understand her friend's fascination with creatures, but she supports her either way. "I didn't know there were other breeds out there."

"Neither did I. It's a very wonderful world that we live in." Luna said, with excitement in her voice.

Suddenly, a waitress came to take their order. After that, the two friends settled into an easy conversation about Ginny's recent travels as well as Luna's news.

"I'm getting married."

Ginny sputtered the coffee she was drinking, some dripping on the table and on her lap. She hurriedly took a napkin to wipe the drips before they settled into the fabric. When she's regained her footing, Ginny looked at Luna with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, you're getting married? Are you even dating anyone?" Ginny knows that came off accusingly, but she doesn't recall Luna mentioning anybody in the last few times they've seen each other.

Luna sat there unaffected, her face looking dreamy. "It was a whirlwind romance, you could say. I met him in one of my little adventures in Ireland a month ago. He's intelligent and curious. He's a magizoologist."

At this, Ginny's eyes doubled its current size. "One month? You've been dating this person for one month? Are you sure, Luna? You're not being pressured or anything aren't you?"

Luna merely smiled at Ginny and took her hand which was on the table. "When you know, you know. Why bother fighting it when it's gonna lead to that anyway?" Luna said dreamily.

Ginny has managed to get over the initial shock and is now focusing on her friend's words. I wish it could be that easy.

"And you're 100% sure about this?" Ginny emphasized again.

"Yes." Luna replied with a smile.

Ginny nodded and held Luna's hand that was holding hers tightly. She offered a smile. "Then, I will support you. Congratulations, Luna!"

Luna broke into a big smile and patted Ginny's hand. "And I want you to be my maid of honor. If you would like, of course."

This time, Ginny was surprised in a good way. "Of course! Merlin, I can't believe you're getting married!" Ginny exclaimed, now happier about her friend's news than she was a minute ago.

"Me too. Hopefully, you'll follow soon." Luna said unthinkingly.

Ginny sighed. "I don't think so. I'm too busy. Besides there's no one to get married to."

Luna smiled encouragingly. "I'm sure there will be someone if you let them."

For some reason, Ginny feels like Luna knows about her recent concerns. She hasn't talked to her about it yet, but she knows how perceptive Luna can be.

Wanting to veer away from her own issues, Ginny said, "Let's stop talking about me. You're the one getting married! Have you thought of when you'll get married?"

And, thus, the friends enjoyed a nice hearty lunch discussing wedding details excitedly until it was time for Ginny to head back to work.