Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter…unfortunately.
Setting: After the war, but before the Epilogue.
Summary: Harry and Ginny were once happy and in love, but after the war, things changed. And so did Harry. They live in a small rundown flat in the middle of London and Ginny spends most of her days at her minimum wage job at a small café owned by someone she once considered the enemy. But, like Harry, things have changed since their time at Hogwarts. With Harry's drinking problem and violent tendencies Ginny feels almost hopeless and is on the brink of giving up. But with the help of Draco Malfoy, she just might be able to salvage what's left of her vibrant and spunky personality.
AN: Just another word of caution to everyone, this chapter includes more domestic violence.
**To all of you Draco/Ginny fans, if you like this fic, I have several other Draco/Ginny fics that you may enjoy. Thanks for the great reviews and thanks for reading!
Finding Normal AgainChapter 4Ginny spent the next two days working double shifts for Draco and staying late to help him with the paperwork. Draco even began to show her how to do it by herself, doing the closing paperwork and figuring the numbers. Ginny started to feel as if she had a purpose in life again and not like she was just working to make ends meet, even if she was still only working as a waitress.
It was the end of the second day and Ginny had just finished faxing in the day's numbers and she set the last of the paperwork in the usual pile to await Draco's approval. She picked up her coffee cup to take it to the sink and wash it when Draco cut her off at the door, nearly running into her.
"Oh." Ginny stopped abruptly to avoid knocking either of them over.
"You're certainly in a hurry." Draco smirked and maneuvered around Ginny.
"Just taking my cup to wash it." Ginny shrugged and eyed him suspiciously. "You've been hiding a lot this evening. What are you up to?"
Draco grinned and pulled something from his pocket and held it out for Ginny to take. Ginny reached out and held up a nametag that read 'Assistant Manager' on it. Ginny's face lit up.
"Are you serious?" She asked and set her cup back down on Draco's desk.
Draco nodded. "Of course. I'm a little old for practical jokes, aren't I?"
Ginny lifted a brow and gave him a skeptical look.
Draco shrugged. "Okay, maybe not too old, but I'm serious about this."
Ginny giggled and placed the badge on her shirt. Draco smiled at her excitement over the promotion and decided to give her the rest of his news.
"I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that it comes with a pay raise and I'll personally make sure you get your two days off from now on."
Ginny's eyes widened in surprise and she felt the excitement welling inside of her for a moment. Then her shoulders fell and she looked at him in question.
"But…how can you afford to give me a raise? You're barely making it as it is. And you don't have enough staff for me to take two days off." Ginny shook her head and eyed the badge before taking it off her shirt and offering it back to Draco.
Draco refused the badge and began to explain. "I know what's going on with the profits, trust me I know it's a risk. But I've got to do something and this is all I've come up with. I've already hired two more waitresses and another cook. With extra staff, we can improve our speed and the quality of our service and maybe that will bring in more revenue. I'm even adding to the menu." He gave a little shrug and pushed Ginny's hand back towards her. "Either way you're keeping the promotion and the raise. We'll see what happens anyway."
"Wow." Ginny said simply. "You've really been working hard on this."
Draco sat in his chair with a heavy sigh. "Well I haven't exactly been loafing while you did all the work."
Ginny laughed and leaned against the desk. "I think you need a vacation. Or at least a day off."
"Agreed." Draco said as Ginny yawned. "I think we could both use some days off."
Ginny nodded. "Definitely. And if I'm correct, tomorrow is my scheduled day off."
Draco looked at the schedule on the wall next to his desk. "Affirmative. Any plans?"
Ginny shrugged. "Haven't really thought about it. I don't usually do anything when I get a day off." She looked down, thinking about Harry still sitting in jail, waiting for her to come and rescue him.
Draco watched her demeanor change and thought he understood. Ginny wasn't used to being alone. It made him wonder if she would give in and have Harry released. But then he had an idea.
"Well, seeing as it's time for a night off for me as well, maybe we can go get some dinner or see a movie or something." He tensed as he waited for her to answer.
Ginny looked up. She hadn't expected the offer and it certainly made her curious as to how Draco carried himself on a date. Lost in thought, a smile formed on her face and she nearly forgot she was supposed to be giving Draco an answer.
With a small shrug she decided that maybe she could use a night out. "Sure. What did you have in mind?"
Draco smiled. "I'll think of something."
….
Ginny smiled all the way up the walk to her apartment. She was unusually happy and couldn't wait to spend the next day with Draco. It even sounded weird in her head, Ginny Weasley being excited about spending time with Draco Malfoy. Ginny shook her head and laughed as she opened the front door. She frowned as she walked into complete darkness. It wasn't like her to not leave a light on. Knowing the apartment very well, Ginny found her way to the table lamp and turned it on. She turned and with a gasp almost fell back in surprise at the sight of Harry standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Harry." She said simply.
He had an unreadable expression on his face and it scared her.
"Welcome home, love." He said, the anger in his voice seemed to seep into her pores.
What are you doing?" She asked. She instinctively reached for her wand and she nearly cursed at herself when she realized she left it on Draco's desk.
He shrugged. "What do you mean?" He walked towards her a bit. "I'm home. Aren't you happy?"
Ginny could smell the alcohol on his breath, even from the nearly five feet distance between them.
Ginny tried to put on a fake smile and lied as well as she could. "Of course." She moved forward slightly before regretting it. "I haven't had the money to come get you myself. How did you get out?"
Harry continued to make his way toward Ginny, stopping with a couple feet left between them. He shrugged again in reply. "Doesn't matter. I'm home." It was then Ginny noticed Harry was holding his wand.
Again Ginny reached for a wand that wasn't there.
Harry raised his brows. "Misplaced your wand?" A smirk formed in his features and Ginny began to shake with fear.
Ginny shook her head, trying to lie again. "No, I was just looking for…my phone. I was going to call mom and tell her you were home."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Like they would care if they even knew I was gone. Don't lie to me, Ginny. You didn't even try to get me out. You never even called, did you?" He moved closer, his face was only inches from hers now. "It's not like you to leave your wand, Gin. Where could it be?" He brought his hand up to cup Ginny's cheek, causing her to wince. Then he leaned down to whisper angrily in her ear. "Maybe you left it on Draco's bedside table."
Ginny didn't have time to react. Harry pulled his arm back and slapped Ginny across the face. The force of the hit knocked Ginny down and she landed on the floor and against the door with a thud.
"Harry." Ginny pleaded with him, shaking her head and trying to hold back her tears. "I swear, it's not like that at all."
"Liar!" Harry bellowed and moved to lean over her. "I'm not stupid, Ginny. I saw you with him at work that day. And I saw you through the window tonight. Laughing and flirting and talking like I don't even exist. You liked it while I was gone didn't you? You didn't have to hide or lie to me." He shook his head with anger as he spit into Ginny's face. Harry pulled Ginny up by the arm and pulled back his hand again. "Not anymore, Ginny. You're mine." He said before hitting her again with even more force.
Ginny cried out in pain as she hit the wall on the opposite side of the room, head first. She couldn't stop the tears now and reached up to feel the spot where her head hit. She felt warm blood and began to sob uncontrollably. All she could think to do was plead as Harry came at her again. Before he could reach her though, there was a knock on the apartment door and Harry stopped in his tracks. A smile spread across his face.
"Expecting company?" He turned to go to the door.
Ginny shook her head and tried to get up. "I swear I don't know who it is."
Harry rounded on her again and Ginny barely had time to cry out before Harry sent a curse flying at her and she was out.
When Ginny woke she had no idea how long it had been until she heard loud noises and curses being shouted in the other room. As much as it hurt to stand, Ginny found her way to the kitchen doorway and peaked in. She was relieved and very happy to see Draco on the other end of the kitchen, his wand at the ready, pointing in Harry's direction. He looked up and almost lowered his wand, his face etched with pain at the sight of the disheveled Ginny. He recovered quickly and sent a curse flying at Harry who had taken his eyes off Draco for a split second to look at Ginny. Harry slammed into the wall behind him and Draco ran for Ginny, pulling her into the living room.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, even though it didn't matter, she was glad he was there.
Draco shook his head at the unimportant question. "Go, Ginny. To the diner…to my flat…somewhere I can find you, please, go now."
Ginny shook her head as more tears fell. "I'm not leaving you alone with him, he's mad."
"I know," Draco placed his hands on Ginny's arms and he heard Harry moving around in the other room. "I know, just go please. I don't want you to get hurt anymore, please." He thrust her wand into her hands and watched behind his back as he nudged her towards the door.
Ginny took her wand and with one last look at Draco she disapparated. When she looked up she was sitting on the floor of Draco's office and she didn't know what to do except crumple to the floor in tears.