Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Author's Note: I am so sorry this took so long, but I'm back at school and, well, the time for writing fanfiction just doesn't come as easily. I will try to update at least once every two weeks, though. Don't forget to review!

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Above and Beyond

Chapter 9 – In which Ginny goes home to Dastardly Plots

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It was the day of her leave and Ginny was packing some last minute items she wanted to take home. She finished, closing the rucksack and left her room, going to the nursery. She wanted to say goodbye to the children and also to remind Draco that she would be leaving.

She knocked on the door and waited. After a moment Draco opened it and she saw behind him, Adan and Addie playing tea party. She grinned, Adan looked so out of place among Addie's frilly bows and stuffed animals. She looked back at Draco who had raised an eyebrow in impatience. She cocked an eyebrow of her own and stared at him challengingly.

'Can I come in, then?' she asked tersely.

Draco rolled his eyes and stepped back from the doorway.

Ginny crossed the room, avoiding looking at him, and knelt between the twins at the miniature table.

'Ginny!' Adan squealed. He launched himself out of his seat and into Ginny's arms.

'Hello there.' She said, affectionately tweaking his nose.

Addie greeted Ginny demurely in a way Ginny thought was a mockery of Narcissa's graceful inclination of her head.

'Miz Cabrera,' Ginny said politely, a small smile only betraying her amusement.

'Loves, today's my day off, so I'll be going home, okay?'

'Do you have to?' Adan asked petulantly, clinging to her neck.

'Yes, Adan, I've go to go home. I haven't seen my family in a long time and I miss them.'

'Will you miss us today?' he asked again.

'Mm hmm, of course I will. But I'll be back by tonight so tomorrow it'll be as if I never left.'

Adan nodded against her chest and she hugged him, pressing a light kiss to his forehead. She brushed away the light wisps of hair, noticing that it needed to be trimmed. She stood and pressed another kiss to Addie's forehead, murmuring goodbye again before leaving.

Draco grabbed her elbow as she passed him and whispered in her ear,

'Where's my goodbye kiss?'

Ginny heart slammed a staccato in her ribs and she took a deep breath to calm down.

'Last time I checked Mr. Malfoy, you get plenty of goodbye kisses every night. You don't need one from me.' Ginny said, trying to convince herself as much as Draco.

He released her, with stony eyes. Ginny sucked in a breath feeling that she had gone too far, but a moment later his gaze had returned to sarcastic and teasing. Unnerved with the intensity of feeling that swept through, Ginny backed away and walked down the hallway without looking back.

Ginny was received at home with the minimal fuss she could have expected. She returned Molly's and Hermione's embraces then seated herself at the kitchen table with a steaming cup of green tea in her hands. She sipped the calming brew slowly. Mm, she thought, my favourite.

She had missed the easy going camaraderie of her home life, and smiled when she thought about what Narcissa's reaction would be if she ever decided to breakfast in her bathrobe. She nearly laughed out loud at the thought of Narcissa in a bathrobe in all her royal stateliness. The thought of Draco in a bathrobe with nothing underneath, sobered her up immediately and sent her blood rushing.

'Well, Hermione's got your whole day planned, I suspect. Where're you girls going exactly?' her mother said, after they had drunken a reasonable amount of tea.

Hermione glanced at Ginny before responding.

'The usual, Molly: scour Diagon Alley. We thought we'd check Flourish and Blotts for any new literature as well and end up at the new ice cream parlour for a late lunch.'

Molly nodded almost approvingly causing Ginny to smile. Her mother liked to feel like a part of her plans even now.

They chattered non-stop about the occasions Ginny had missed: Ron's birthday, the formal announcement of his and Hermione's pregnancy, the announcement of Bill and Fleur's fourth child, and of course Fred and George's memorable declaration that they were going to appear in an onstage production of a popular Japanese high school comedy.

Many re-fills later Hermione noticed it was time to meet Luna. It was after one in the afternoon as she and Ginny helped Mrs. Weasley clear up the remnants of an enjoyable tea. Ginny and Hermione Flooed to Diagon Alley where they were scheduled to meet Luna.

'Ginny! Chica, como estas?'

'Still dating the Spaniard, I see.' Ginny said in a stage whisper to Hermione. Her friend only smiled as Luna swatted her playfully on her arm.

They headed off arm in arm down the street and Hermione began humming the theme from The Wizard of Oz. laughing, Ginny and Luna joined in too. Ginny couldn't remember having this much fun since Hogwarts and even then she hadn't had the comforting familiarity of this close friendship.

A search of the bookshop turned up fruitless, unless one counted Hermione getting excited over the latest edition of Dr. Spock's baby books. Ginny and Luna shook their heads in bemusement over their friend's enthusiasm; Hermione was a bookworm through and through.

They exited Flourish and Blotts and continued up the street to Danni's Danishes the new coffee shop that encompassed a deli and ice cream parlour.

'Ginny,' Luna whispered, 'That bloke's been staring at you ever since we came out of the bookshop.'

Ginny swivelled her head in the direction Luna was pointing so she could see the man her friend was referring to. Whoa. Ginny stopped short of dropping her jaw.

That 'bloke' was very very gorgeous and very very definitely staring at her. He had stunning green eyes, not the emerald of Harry's but more like tumultuous ocean if she had to describe them. They were framed by the most perfect blonde lashes the same shade of his hair. His face, Ginny concluded, was sinfully handsome, the kind that shouldn't be allowed in public.

A hint of a smile tinged his lips and Ginny's mouth went dry. She wondered vaguely if he was part Veela but decided he didn't have the hair colour. Hermione had paused beside Luna somewhere in the vicinity behind Ginny but she simply wasn't aware of them anymore. All she concentrated on was the tall striking hunk striding towards her.

He stopped directly in front of her and extended a hand.

'I'm Erin Xavier. You must be Ginny Weasley.'

Ginny was too startled by the bold approach to do much more than gape at his hand. It wasn't until Luna or Hermione – it was probably Luna – prodded her in the back that she clasped his hand in her own. Or rather allowed him to clasp hers; his hand was so big compared to her small delicate one. As soon as they had touched Ginny felt her mind go pleasantly blank.

'Pleased to meet you.' she responded dreamily.

'I've seen you around at work.'

'You work at VVH?' she blurted out.

He nodded, giving a rueful smile. 'I take it you've never seen me, then?'

Ginny shook her head apologetically.

'Well, I was wondering if you could get a drink with me. If you aren't busy, that is.'

Ginny shook her head and took his proffered arm; her only goodbye to her friends was an absent wave of her hand.

Behind their retreating backs Hermione narrowed her eyes shrewdly and even Luna looked quizzically after them. For once the two girls shared the same thought: something's wrong.