This is just one scene, only part of the chapter I have planned. But... I wanted to give everybody fair warning that it may be another month before I post the rest of it. I am moving my family across the country in a few weeks, and packing needs to get serious now!

A tremendous thank you to VictorianSongbird1857 who is a brilliant writer herself and helped me tidy up the previous chapters a bit!

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Chapter 8 : A week later...

Ginny pushed open the wrought iron gate and walked down the path to the house beyond. Oh, this was going to be so awkward! She walked slowly, vaguely taking in the unkempt lawn and the haphazard excuse for ornamental shrubbery. When she came within five yards of the house, the door suddenly burst open, and Scorpius dashed outside.

"So you did come after all! Papa said that you would be here. Oh, I can't wait to tell Albus that I got to see his mum before he did! He will be so jealous." Ginny cracked a smile.

From inside she could here Draco's voice, "Scorpius! What did I tell you about greeting a guest? Invite the lady in first, for goodness sake!"

"Excuse me. Won't you come in, Mrs. Potter?" Scorpius tried to lower his voice in an amusing imitation of his father.

"Why, thank you, Scorpius. And what an unexpected pleasure to see you! You just wait until I tell Albus that I saw his best friend before he did. He will be jealous!" Scorpius laughed.

"Good afternoon! Good afternoon! You can see we are both delighted to see you. Won't you come in and sit down?"

"Thank you," Ginny said, sitting in one of the gray chairs she remembered. She frowned, "But you do understand I'm only here to do the interview."

"What? I didn't think you were serious. Do your interview first, and then stay for tea."

"We're having rosemary chicken for dinner tonight," put in Scorpius.

"Yes, even better, stay for dinner. We haven't had a guest in ages."

"That's very kind of you," she insisted, "but I really think it's best if I- I'm afraid I just can't stay."

"Oh, fine." Draco snapped grumpily. "If you can't, you can't. Scorpius, you may as well go play now. Don't worry, I'll call you when it's time to say goodbye." The boy looked disappointed, but he didn't argue. Ginny watched his little blond head disappear out the door and into the yard.

Ginny pulled out her parchment and Quick-quotes quill. After The Daily Prophet ran their article on Harry, her first instinct would have been to quit her job on the spot, but so much had happened first: spending the evening talking with Draco, finding that Ms. Codwallop had at least sort of owled her an apology first, and then seeing that Harry was not too terribly devastated by it... Well, if she was totally honest, the fact that the article had embarrassed Harry too much for him to get serious with that ridiculously young new trainee- it left her in a somewhat generous frame of mind towards the Prophet. And besides, she had to admit to herself, who would hire her if she quit before she even completed her first assignment?

Ginny was too stubborn to let Harry or anyone ruin this new venture, so she had decided to stick it out. And that was the only reason she was here today. It had nothing to do with being lonely. It had nothing to do with the fact that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had spent every day this week going somewhere or doing something to cheer Harry up while she sat at home, forgotten. It had nothing to do with the fact that Draco's words had been echoing in her head all week.

"No woman deserves that!" In her heart, she knew it was true, though she did not want to admit it. But he had insulted Harry, and that was unforgiveable.

In the past week, she had interviewed all the other people she could think of: the players, the managers, the coach. There was no way to continue avoiding it; she had to ask Draco for an interview, too. And he had agreed.

So here she was, ready to interview him. Ginny posed her questions. "How did he envision the team's future? Did he plan on making any changes? and so on." Having practiced all week made the whole process feel more natural now.

About half-way through, though, Draco suddenly changed the subject. "Excuse me. I just have to know. Is it because of what I said that night about Potter that you won't stay, or is it because..." he couldn't bring himself to say what he was thinking out loud, "of something else?"

Malfoy sounding insecure? That was unexpected. "Of course it's because of what you said about him!" she snapped.

"Ah," he said simply. Draco looked thoughtful for a few moments. "Look," he began, "I can't pretend to understand why you are so intent on defending the man." Ginny tried to interrupt, "But," he continued, "I suppose I can try not to call him names in front of you. Just don't expect me to like him. That's not reasonable."

Ginny had opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it again. "Alright," she said slowly, "I imagine that's a fair compromise."

Draco finally untensed his shoulders. "So you will stay for dinner, then? Scorpius would be pleased."

Ginny smiled, "Well, I really would enjoy the extra company," she admitted. She had tried to keep busy, but even so, it had been a very long, lonely week. The evenings were the hardest. "But I actually do need to go. I have to get Lily in a few minutes. Mum is expecting me."

"I see... You could always get Lily and then come back, you know."

"Well, yes. I suppose I could."

"Really? Wonderful! It's all settled then. Have we quite finished the interview now?"

"No," she laughed. "We have not, Mr. Malfoy! I intend to ask you prying questions for atleast another ten minutes."

"Oh, well, if we must, then we must. You are very thorough, aren't you?"

"Very."