To my rabid readers (lol): sorry for the wait, I've been really busy. This chapter isn't very long, I just wanted to dish it out before writer's block seriously takes over my mind.

Chapter Six: An Empty Space

The day the new issue of Charm was published Jason demanded that everyone take the day off. Ginny was relieved to not be in the office on such a beautiful day and went to St. Mungo's.

This time when Ginny walked in to her father's ward, she was alone and a man with light brown hair and black eyes was standing over Arthur with a goblet in one hand and a clipboard in the other. He looked up when Ginny came in. He had an awkward looking nose.

"You must be a family member?" he smiled.

"Yes, Ginny…and you are?"

"Theo Labasticus. I was just giving Mr. Weasley here, a Strengthening Solution. It seems to be the only thing working on him, but very slowly."

Ginny nodded and sat in the chair next her father's bed. The Trainee Healer bowed himself out of the room leaving Ginny and her father alone. His eyes were closed but he smiled to show Ginny he was listening.

"I know you'll get better, Dad. I know you will," her chin started to wrinkle and she knew she was going to cry. She tried her hardest to hold it in though.

"A lot's been going on. The latest issue of Charm came out today."

Arthur smiled weakly again.

She hated that he couldn't say anything back to her. She knew he was weak and she definitely wasn't holding it against him, it was just….frustrating. Ginny held his hand, which felt dry and brittle beneath her warm palm, and let him know that she was there for him.

-:-

Ginny came back every day during the weekend to see her father but every time she came the Healers told her that there hasn't been any change. Because she wasn't paying attention to anything but him she didn't know about an upcoming Quidditch match until she went into work on Monday.

Dennis Creevey was ranting on and on, like a buzzing mosquito, about it as he followed her into her office. When she went inside…something was missing.

The desk.

Malfoy.

"Where…where is Malfoy?" she asked

"Huh?"

"Malfoy! Where is he?"

"He got his own office remember? He was only going to be in here for a week."

Ginny's shoulders slumped in disappointment. She rather liked having him in her office, despite his past he was good company.

Dennis grinned, devilishly.

"You miss him?"

"Don't be silly," she snapped sounding very much like her mother.

Knowing this as his cue to drop the subject, Dennis changed tactics.

"Jason has tickets for the Quidditch game on Wednesday! You want to go?"

"Who's playing?" Ginny asked setting her purse on her desk and sifting through papers.

"Harpies versus the Stingers," he raised his eyebrows.

"Ooo, should be a good game, tell Jason I'm in."

Dennis said, "Will do," and left the office.

Ginny plopped into her desk chair staring at that empty space. So she had lied, she did miss Malfoy. These days it wouldn't be considered such a crime, seeing as how much he had changed. But the War had changed everybody. Malfoy wasn't rude anymore, nor arrogant and selfish. He hadn't once insulted her. It was all so…different. Ginny ran a hand through her flaming red hair and decided to search for the ex-Slytherin.

She went to Dolly's cubicle and asked. He pointed her towards Jason's office and to the right. It was across from Pansy's. Biting her lips she knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Ginny."

She was starting to wish she hadn't come. Her nerves were starting to kick in. The back of her neck was sweating and she really had to use the lavatory.

"Come in," he called.

She opened the door and stepped into the room. It was a really good size for someone who had been working for only a week. Jason must really like him.

Malfoy was sitting at his new desk with a quill between his teeth. Ginny decided if she looked at him again she'd wet her pants so she looked around his office instead. It was filled with Slytherin paraphernalia.

"Loyalty never dies, eh?" she asked staring at the cloth shield of the Slytherin snake.

"Absolutely not Ginerva! How could it? I was a proud Slytherin."

"That you were," she sighed mustering up some courage to look at him.

Thankfully though she did not wet her pants, but however, she started sweating a bit more. Wiping the sweat off of the back of her neck and wiping it again on her slacks, she wondered why he had such an affect on her. People change, what was so weird about that? It shouldn't be making her sweat like a pig.

"So, what's up?"

"Oh, I just came to see your new office….and ask if you're going to the Quidditch match."

"Sure."

Ginny sat in the chair facing his desk. She looked him full in the face and held his silver gaze. The quill in his mouth made her focus in on his lips but she quickly looked away. This was getting bloody ridiculous.

"You look troubled," he said concerned.

She wondered how he would react if she told him she thought she was becoming a psychotic.

-:-

Jason had arranged a Portkey for all the staff members to use to arrive at the stadium. This reminded Ginny of when she went to the Quidditch World Cup, only this time the pitch would be in a different location.

Ginny had woken early on Wednesday morning as Jason had suggested, in time to get to the office by 6:30. When she arrived everyone looked grumpy and disheveled by the early hour. Luna Lovegood seemed to be the only one wide awake.

"This is going to be such fun!" she said to a yawning Ginny, "I haven't been to a match in ages!"

"It's going to be absolutely raving! The Harpies and the Stingers are fierce rivals! Think of the pictures! I know the Prophet photographers are going to be absolutely lunatic," Dennis said gripping his camera.

Ginny, too tired to reply turned her attention Jason who had just come out of his office accompanied by Malfoy.

"Alright! Ladies, gents, the Portkey is scheduled to work in a bout two minutes so gather round!" he said excitedly.

Everyone gathered around a very old issue of Charm and waited until Jason signaled them to get ready. Ginny reached out and put a finger on the magazine.

"Three….two…one!"

Ginny felt a jerk around her navel as she as the Portkey transported her to Wingledon Park.