A/N: There's more Draco in this chapter – hopefully that gets some people to REVIEW!!!!!!!! And maybe if you do….I'll give you a cookie! (Sorry if this isn't very well edited, I don't own an Editing Quill)
Chapter Four: A Suggestion and A Million Sympathizers
Back at the Burrow everyone tried to keep busy so they wouldn't think about Mr. Weasley too much. Ginny, Hermione, Fleur and Molly sat at the kitchen table discussing the latest Witch Weekly issue.
"That acne potion really works though," Hermione said, "Victoire was telling me about it. It's not all that diff-''
Hermione was cut off by a screech owl flying through the open window followed by Diddle who was screeching all over the place.
"Dammit," Ginny whispered paying attention only to the screech owl. She went over to the window and took a bright red envelope from the owl's beak.
"What is it dear?" her mum asked.
"I forgot to tell Jason I wouldn't be coming into work today. Damn."
Ginny completely ignored Diddle who was still screeching. Diddle wasn't very happy about being ignored. But Ginny who was getting annoyed said, "Would you shut it! I can see you!"
Diddle gave a protesting squawk and flew back out the window. Ginny returned back to the letter which was starting to steam at the sides. She took a deep breath and opened it.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" the envelope asked forming into a mouth with fangs. Ginny winced a little. "YOU HAVE DUTIES AND YOU CAN'T JUST DECIDE TO UP AND LEAVE WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT. YOU ASK GINERVA!!! YOU ASK!!! YOU BETTER HAVE A DAMN GOOD REASON FOR NOT COMING IN TODAY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE HAVE DRACO AND YOU'RE TRAINING HIM! EITHER GET YOUR HIDE TO WORK OR SEND BACK A LETTER WITH THIS OWL! I'M DISSAPPOINTED IN YOU GINERVA!! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!"
The envelope hissed and exploded.
"I didn't know you're boss was American," Hermione said.
"Who is Draco?" Molly asked.
"Draco Malfoy, Mum," Ginny explained sifting through the junk drawer trying to find parchment.
"What?" Molly's eyes widened to extreme size.
"Apparently he has a knack for writing about gardens," Hermione said laughing.
Ginny, ignoring her mother's surprised look got her Self-Ink Quill from her purse and began her letter back to Jason. As she wrote the screech owl stood next to it almost as thought he was reading. Ginny explained about her father and said she'd be in tomorrow and she rolled it up, sealed it and tied it around the screech owl's leg. It squawked and took off out the window.
"Ginny, why didn't you tell me, dear?" Molly said. The skin on her forehead was wrinkling.
"It's nothing to worry about Mum, he's completely fine. And besides, it didn't seem like the right time," Ginny was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Well….I suppose. Though, I had no idea he was interested in gardens," Molly lifted an eyebrow.
Ginny shrugged and said, "I'm going to go change."
"I'll get lunch started," Molly said rising from her chair. "I'll 'elp!" Fleur smiled.
Ginny could swear she saw her mum roll her eyes. Some things never change. Hermione headed into the living room with the men and sat with Ron. Ginny went upstairs to her room and closed the door behind her. Her room looked exactly the same as it did when she was in her seventh year. She went over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a Holyhead Harpies T-shirt. It wasn't until she put it on that she remembered who got it for her.
Harry.
She thought about taking it off but decided that she'd keep it on. After all she wore it because she supported the Harpies, not Harry. Ginny opened the door and found herself face to face with the Savior of the Wizarding World. She almost closed the door again but came to her senses and said, "Hi."
"Hi. Can we talk?"
"Sure, let's go downstairs."
"Maybe somewhere more private…" Harry looked passed Ginny and into her room. She pretended not to take the hint and said, "We can go in the garden."
Harry nodded hiding disappointment. Ginny led the way, through the kitchen and into the overgrown, gnome infested garden.
"So what do you want to talk about?" she said looking him in the eye. She made sure to not show a hint of interest in her voice.
"You're wearing the shirt I got you," Harry observed.
Stalling. Ginny looked at him expectantly.
"I wanted to talk about us."
"Us?"
Harry sighed and looked out over the hill. Ginny looked too trying to understand what he meant by us. There was no us they were separate people now, with separate lives. As they walked Ginny noticed several gnomes peeking from hydrangea bushes, seeing who was among them.
"The world is a better place now and I just think…that maybe we can pick up where we left off."
Ginny stopped in her tracks.
"What?"
"I mean, I still love you," he said turning to look at her. "I always have and the only reason I broke up with you was so that you'd be safe. I didn't want you to be a direct target of the Death Eaters. Ginny, we're meant to be."
Ginny could have laughed. She looked at him with her mouth open and her eyebrows
furrowed.
"You broke up with me twelve years ago. And now you just want to pick up where we left off?"
Harry didn't say anything.
"Things happen, over the course of twelve years and I'm sorry Harry but I just don't feel the same way anymore," Ginny swallowed. "It's not you at all. I just think we're more like family than a couple."
Harry ran his hands through his hair and looked down at his feet. No one spoke for what seemed like a long time. Ginny didn't know what to say. She felt like she was fifteen again. Like the break up was happening all over again, only she was doing the damage. But back then Harry still loved her and apparently so did she.
Ginny started biting her nails.
"Er, okay, then." He sounded angry. He walked pass Ginny and went through the garden and back into the house. She exhaled and followed him, not feeling all that guilty.
-:-
Not being able to stand the awkwardness after her conversation with Harry she left right after dinner. Diddle refused to travel with her, still upset about Ginny yelling at her. Once she was in her apartment she changed out of her Harpies shirt and threw it carelessly on the floor of her bedroom. She put on a Weird Sisters shirt instead and plopped on the bed.
She was getting a headache. Rubbing her forehead she wished she didn't have to go to work in the morning. But once her alarm went off she got dressed, grabbed her purse and Apparated to the office.
Ginny stopped at the cubicles to say hello to Dolly, Rick and Eileen.
"Oh honey," Dolly said, "I am so sorry about your father. I hope he'll be alright. Have a doughnut." Dolly handed Ginny a glazed, voluptuous doughnut. It looked like heaven. Without caring about her weight she took it and told Dolly thank you. Rick and Eileen patted her on the shoulder.
"Thank you, guys. Did Malfoy get in yet?"
"Yeah, he's in Luna's office."
Ginny took a bite of the doughnut and knocked on Luna's door.
"It's open!" she called.
She opened the door and walked through to see Malfoy and Luna entangled in a ferocious looking tree.
"Wow," Ginny breathed.
The branches of the tree thrashed around wildly. The leaves were bright orange and the trunk sported protruding black lumps.
"Are those boils?" Ginny asked pointing.
"No, they're pods," Luna said in a strangled voice. "We've been trying to bind it but every time one of us let's go of it, it starts to brake things."
"Oh, well I'll help."
"On the count of three," Malfoy said. His blond hair was covering his eyes and his hands were covered in blisters. Luna's bun was unraveling.
"One…two…THREE!" Malfoy and Luna let go of the tree and Ginny wordlessly pointed her wand toward it. Ropes sprung from the end of her wand and wrapped themselves around the tree binding the branches up tight. As though out of life it drooped pathetically.
Malfoy sagged against the wall panting hard. Luna looked unfazed. She wiped her hands on her robes and said, "I'm sorry about Arthur. He'll be okay." There was a twinkle in her eye that told Ginny she had hope for her dad.
"Thank you, Luna."
"Healers have never failed to find cures."
Ginny looked up and Malfoy was giving her a reassuring look. She smiled back.
"So what's this tree thing?" she asked.
"Some witch wanted me to identify it. She said she went to Herbology Hour but they couldn't figure it out. I don't think we'll have much luck, Neville says he doesn't know either."
"Did the witch know where it originated?" Ginny said walking closer to it.
"I'm thinking China, they have trees with different colored leaves there. I think I'll be taking a trip," Luna looked away wistfully.
"Wow."
Ginny inspected it from every angle and wondered how this woman got this plant. She didn't just walk across it somehow. Ginny straightened up and said, "Well I need to see Jason, so I'll talk to you later Luna. Malfoy…" she nodded at him.
"Actually I was heading in that direction," Malfoy said. They walked out of Luna Lovegood's office together, walking down the hall.
"I read your article, you're a talented writer Weasley," he said.
Ginny nodded not really knowing what to say. It wasn't everyday that a man who used to hate you gave you a compliment. Once they were outside Jason Welsh's office door Malfoy headed off toward Pansy's office. She watched him go for a second then knocked quietly on Jason's door.
"Come in!" he called.
Ginny opened the door and stepped in. Jason was sitting at his desk his glasses perched on his nose, reading a long scroll of parchment. His back was to the large window overlooking a busy street below. He looked up at Ginny and took his glasses off.
"Sit, sit." He gestured the two chairs in front of his desk. Ginny sat in the one of the left.
"You got my letter?"
"Yes, Ginny and I'm really sorry I yelled at you. Yesterday was just really hectic. What's the news on your father?"
"Well," Ginny took a deep breath and focused her attention on her black pumps, "they've tried everything they could but nothing is curing him."
"Well the Healers never give up so he won't go down without a fight," Jason said sitting back. He continued, "I want to talk about the new intern, Mr. Malfoy. He's been a real help around here. He's doing favors for people in all kinds of departments and he seemed like a pretty decent guy when I talked to him."
Jason waited for her to say something but Ginny kept her focus on her pumps.
"So when I did talk to him he told me he went to school with a good handful of you. You, Luna, Pansy, Dennis…"
"Sir, is there a point?"
"I was just surprised…I mean I thought he would be the type to go to Durmstrang seeing his family's intolerance of half breeds and Muggleborns. Well anyway, get back to work. We're to have the new issue out by Saturday. Joe told me you got your article in already?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." He put his glasses back on and she knew she was dismissed.