Chapter 18

ClaraO'Byrne sat at her desk outside of Senior Auror Tonks' office. She was marking Tonks' calendar with all of the appointments that the Auror would have for the next month when she heard the clicking of heels upon the tiled floors. She looked up just in time to see Ginny Weasley making her way to the elevator. The redheaded woman's posture was rigid, and it was obvious that she was concerned about something. Curious, Clara stood from her desk and walked over to her friend.

"Good morning, Gin" she said brightly.

Ginny turned her face to the blond and Clara gasped.

She was pale, too pale, and her freckles stood out in stark contrast to the fair background. Her eyes were dark and stormy, and although she had done a valiant effort with the glamour charms, Clara could see red rings under the young woman's honey-colored eyes.

"Merlin, Gin. Are you alright?"

Ginny smiled brightly, creating dimples in her cheeks, as she replied, "Of course. Why?"

Clara looked into her eyes deeply. "You're lying," she stated pointedly, her normal ditzy air being replaced by a mothering tone.

Ginny chuckled. "Why would I lie? Oh! Here's the lift… I'll talk to you later, Clara."

The blond gave her friend a look that clearly said, 'I don't think so', and boarded the elevator with her. Clara watched her intently as the elevator made its way down to the Auror offices.

Ginny felt uncomfortable under the secretary's scrutiny and she let out a heavy sigh. "Clara, I promise nothing is wrong. I'm just tired."

"You've been crying."

"I'm fine," she reassured her as the elevator beeped and the doors opened onto her floor. She turned in the direction of her office and was only mildly annoyed when she could hear the footsteps of the pretty blond following her.

Clara caught up to her. "You know I'm not going to leave you alone."

Ginny laughed. "You're worse than my mu—" She stopped, frozen in place by what she saw in front of her.

The blond followed her line of sight and gasped slightly. She looked back at her freckled friend and then over to the couple whispering to each other just a few feet away.

Draco Malfoy and Rosa Torres.

Looking once again at Ginny's face, Clara could feel understanding bloom in her chest, and she felt a wave of sympathy consume her. She placed a hand on the still frozen Ginny's arm.

"Gin—"

At the sound of her name, Ginny snapped out of her reverie and quickly sprinted in the other direction.

"Ginny! Wait!" Clara looked back once more towards the giggling couple and saw that Draco was now looking after Ginny, his face troubled. Growling under her breath, she rushed after her friend.

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It wasn't a misunderstanding. It wasn't.

It was all true. Draco was seeing Rosa, and she hadn't meant anything at all to him. She was just a convenient female between conquests.

She felt disgusted. She had thought that he had liked her, even a little. She should have known. He was a Malfoy and she was a Weasley. It was never going to happen.

It didn't matter now. She should have never given in to him. No matter how attractive he was, he was still a hateful, arrogant, lying son-of-a-bitch.

How stupid of her to have forgotten.

Her lungs burned and her lip quivered as she rushed blindly through the halls.

Suddenly a strong grip on her arm made her stop. A strong male grip. She turned her face slowly, not sure that she wanted to know who had stopped her, not sure if she should have stopped at all. Her vision was blurry with tears, but even through that barrier, she could see the boyish face and the worried expression of one of her dearest friends.

"Neville." She sobbed and he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head.

He whispered comforting things to her as she cried into his chest. She was trying to talk, but he hushed her, petting her hair and trying to calm her down.

"Ginny!" A feminine voice yelled breathlessly, and at the sight of Neville holding Ginny, she fell against a wall, relieved. "Thank goodness someone stopped her," Clara gasped out, grabbing her side. She smiled slightly at the male Auror and he nodded at her.

"Let's all get out of here," Neville suggested. "A big breakfast sounds like a good idea."

Clara nodded and summoned an elf. When it appeared, she informed it that the three of them would be back in a few hours.

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Ginny sniffed a little as she looked at her swirling reflection in her coffee cup. She was wringing a paper napkin between her fingers and parts of it were already shredding.

Neville sighed and took a long gulp of his own coffee. "What happened, Gin?"

Ginny shook her head derisively and Clara smiled gently at her. She placed a hand over the other girl's wringing hands and asked, "Would you like me to tell him?"

The redhead nodded mutely and tore savagely at the defenseless paper between her fingers.

Clara looked up into Neville's dark blue eyes. He was handsome, in a boyish way, she mused for a moment before speaking. "Well, we were walking down the hall—I was there because I could tell she was upset-- anyway, we were walking down the hall and then Ginny stopped suddenly. I looked to see why she had stopped and saw—"

"It wasn't a misunderstanding!" Ginny yelled. "He was there, with Rosa. They're dating. I can't believe I was so stupid! I—"

"Whoa! Whoa, Gin. Who was there?" Neville asked, his round face bewildered.

"My bloody partner. Sodding Draco Malfoy." She grumbled, shredding the last bits of the napkin into tiny flakes.

Neville's eyes widened and he looked into Clara's sympathetic gaze, a question on his face. Clara smiled and nodded in understanding, making Neville raise his eyes heavenward. "How long?"

"What?" Ginny asked, surprise evidenced in her voice.

"How long have you fancied Malfoy?" He clarified and Ginny froze.

"I don't," she amended.

Neville and Clara shared a look and the table was silent for a moment as the waitress brought them their food.

"A while, I guess," Ginny said after a minute. "I don't really know when it happened. I always found him attractive and annoying. I still do." She laughed bitterly. "But somewhere along the line, I started to care for him… a little," she admitted begrudgingly between bites.

"He's a player, Ginny. A low-down dirty player, who enjoys playing with women's emotions. You know that. You told me that a month and a half ago when it was me sitting here whining about him," Clara said, rubbing Ginny's shoulder comfortingly.

"I know! I know," she said, scrubbing her hands down her face. "How could I be so stupid?"

"Gin—did you have feelings for him then? When we talked about him and me?"

"Yeah, I suppose I did," she whispered, stirring her cool coffee with a long finger.

"I knew," Neville said after a minute. "That's why I wasn't upset when you kept turning me down. I thought… I thought he felt the same. He's different with you than he is with anyone else."

Clara nodded at his statement.

"I thought you two would get together. Gods, I want to hurt him." Neville finished and Clara reached out a calming hand to him, brushing his knuckles with her finger tips.

A sudden jolt of electricity jumped up the blonde's arm and she pulled back, wide eyed. She looked up to see Neville blushing and she could feel herself being to turn pink as well.

Ginny watched all of this interestedly over her coffee cup. At least some good had come from all of this. She sighed, resting her cheek in her palm as she looked out the window and onto the busy streets of Diagon Alley. Her violent anger of moments ago was now replaced by a melancholy silence.

"I need to get back to work," Neville said, sending a small smile at Clara, making the secretary flush and Ginny smile slightly.

"Me, too," Ginny added after a moment, and Clara stopped her.

"Oh no you don't! You are not working today," she said with a strange twinkle in her green eyes. "We're going for retail therapy."

"But…"

"No! You two go and have a good time. I'll take care of it," Neville said after a moment and wrapped Ginny in a gentle hug. At her worried look, he smiled, ruffling her hair in a brotherly way. "I'll take care of it," he repeated, and she nodded in acceptance of his favor.

The two girls waved to Neville as he left the restaurant. As soon as the door had closed behind him Clara turned toward Ginny with a goofy smile. "He's cute."

Ginny giggled, determined not to let Draco Malfoy ruin her day. She was going to have fun. "I saw the chemistry between you two." she teased and Clara smacked her lightly on the arm.

"Come on. We have shopping to do."

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Hours later, Ginny returned to her apartment. She's had fun today. Ginny wasn't particularly fond of shopping, but Clara was nuts about it, which made everything more fun.

It had been a busy day and she had bought a few things that she really didn't need, all in the name of healing. Retail therapy. Indeed.

Yes, it had been fun and distracting, but now that she was back at home… everything that had been easy to keep out of her mind all day came back with a vengeance.

She changed into her nightgown and slid into bed. Jasper jumped up beside her and she scratched at his ears. She couldn't hold it in anymore. Her lips parted in a hiccup of a sob. She closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to cry, wishing she was stronger as a warm tear slid down her cheek.

That one tear had opened the gates, and now she was openly crying, sobbing into her pillow. She didn't even hear the noise of someone Flooing into her apartment, or the sound of her bedroom door creaking open. She didn't know anyone was there until the side of the bed dipped with the weight of another person and a gentle hand pushed her hair away from her face.

She looked up into the large cerulean gaze of her friend."What are you doing here?" Ginny asked with a sob, trying to sit up.

Luna Lovegood held her down, putting a gentle pressure on her shoulder and laying Ginny's head in her lap as she sat against the headboard.

"Neville said you needed me" she whispered, a far away look in her eyes as she pet Ginny's long red hair comfortingly.

"Thanks," Ginny whispered, more tears falling from her eyes as her friend sang a strange and sweet lullaby to her.

The last thought Ginny had before falling asleep was that she had people who cared for her, people who loved her. If Draco Malfoy wasn't one of those people, then he wasn't worth her tears.

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A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers and of course my Beta Vicky! To the reviewers of the last chapter:

PyroSymptomsUnleashed: Sorry about all the cliffies! lol and Jasper's my favorite too :)

kasey07: You do need to update yours more! I saw that you put up a new chapter the other day but havent gotten a chance to read it yet :( I've been so busy. stupid work, lol

harrypotterchick4ever: I love you. No really, I do! Your comments always make me smile! As for Harry showing up...We will have to see ;)

beckysue2: Lol, yes, men are pigs. But Draco is a rather sexy pig, don't you think:)

babi-gurl-chels: You are so awesome for reviewing this story so often! You are definitely going in my will! lol jk. Sorry I didnt update sooner, but here it is!

Dumbledore's Troop: Angst is a wonderful thing, i think this chapter may have more than the last in some ways ;)

natalie: Here's an update! Hope you like it!