A/N: A cookie to marinka who's been with me since the beginning and suggested something I was already toying with. I've never been good with holding back when the urge strikes me to write. So two chapters in 24 hours, and potential third on the way.

"How was your holiday?" Aidan asked as Ginny took her seat at the large table set aside for teachers in the Great Hall.

"It was nice to spend time with family," Ginny said with a smile. They fell silent as the students began filing in and she offered a smile to the ones in her house as they took their seats noisily at their house table. She returned Scorpius' small wave and watched expectantly as Minerva stood to welcome them all back. She observed her nieces and nephews jostling at the Griffindor table and elbowing each other before finally settling down as the food appeared.

"Did you go back to the Americas?" Neville asked Aidan as they began to serve themselves from the huge platters at the table. Ginny missed Aidan's answer, though in truth she wasn't very interested, as she watched Scorpius interact with his friends at Slytherin table.

"I saw the pictures of the Yule ball," Aidan said when his conversation with Neville ended. Ginny was drawn back to the conversation at her own table and settled her face in a flat mask.

"Yes, unfortunately the reporters flock to those things," she replied easily. Aidan gave her a knowing smile and Ginny had to keep herself from frowning.

"Looked like you were quite close with a certain blonde haired gentleman…I also saw the Minister's announcement." This time Ginny did frown, flushing to the tips of her ears. Neville interrupted, noticing her discomfort and interrupting her before she could make a scene.

"I heard from Hermione that a couple of seventh years visited the lab."

"Yes," Ginny said, shooting him a grateful smile, "they're thinking of joining me when they graduate. I think they really enjoyed it, they're very promising."

"A Slytherin and a Ravenclaw right?" he asked, taking a bite of his roast.

"Two Slytherins actually. And I'm considering a Griffindor as well but I haven't asked her yet. I'd prefer if you didn't mention it to the other students though, I don't want to be fielding resumes the rest of the term."

"Of course," Neville replied. Ginny was relieved that Aidan had begun talking to Charlie about the holiday.

When Ginny retired that night, after making rounds to make sure all the students in bed, Draco's dark owl was waiting on the perch in her office. She smiled as she offered the owl a treat. It cooed in response and settled in with its head tucked under its wing. She supposed that meant Draco was expecting a response.

She broke the emerald green seal and opened the letter but paused before she read it, leaning back in her desk chair and reflecting on how the holiday had really gone.

"Where's Draco?" Harry asked as they started bringing the dishes into the dining room for dinner. Ginny blushed and was about to answer when she heard the door.

"Oi, Draco you're late!" she heard George exclaim.

"I guess he was just running late," Ginny said with a smile, hastily covering her blush and disappearing back into the kitchen. She heard a round of slaps on the back and handshakes in the living room – the distinctive sound of a paper bag rustling and being stowed somewhere and then Draco appeared in the dining room with his typical Malfoy smile. He kissed Narcissa on the cheek and presented Molly with a covered platter.

"I apologize for my tardiness Molly, but I'm afraid Trixie insisted I wait to bring you the bread she'd cooked and you can't say no when an elf is as insistent as she is." The looks exchanged around the table were priceless, Hermione looked incredibly surprised. Draco turned to smile at Ginny and quickly unwrapped the dish. "I'm just glad she let me go before I missed the amazing meal you prepared."

Ginny took the bread from him to put on the table and he followed her in. Arthur was still carving the roast in the kitchen so they had a moment alone.

"I thought you were coming," she said softly as she placed the bread on the table and began pouring wine into each of the glasses. Draco grabbed the pitcher of pumpkin juice and followed her, filling the glasses placed out for the children.

"I thought I wasn't too. But Trixie was insistent that I leave the Manor. I think Mother put her up to it."

"Well Mum will be happy you came. She's been insisting you attend one of the dinners."

"Your father might have mentioned that to me last night." Ginny just smiled as the rest of the family joined them and they sat down to dinner.

Ginny pulled herself from her thoughts as she stifled a yawn and turned to the letter in front of her.

Ginerva,

I know Hogwarts keeps you really busy, but I was hoping we might be able to meet for dinner tomorrow night. I'd really like to finish the conversation we started over Christmas. Give Scorpius my love.

-Draco

Ginny knew that Draco was incredibly busy with the company, they'd just reopened from the Holiday shutdown and that making time for dinner was nearly as impossible for him as it was for her. She checked her schedule quickly and then penned a note to Minerva, which she sent off in a fashion quite similar to the one the Ministry employed.

Ginny fell into bed before Minerva replied, fully clothed, and didn't wake until the next morning when the sunlight was streaming into her bedroom. She stretched lazily, happy her classes didn't start until after lunch that day. Pulling herself out of bed she ran a hand through her hair and made her way into her office. Draco's owl was still waiting patiently on the perched and it hooted at her as she entered the room. She smiled knowingly and fed it another treat before she sat down at her desk to read Minerva's reply.

Picking up a quill she wrote back to Draco that she would be available for dinner and would meet him at Malfoy Enterprises when the workday ended and tied it to the owl's leg. He took off through her open window and she sat back heavily in her chair. With a final sigh she made her way to the shower to prepare for the day.

Draco released a frustrated sigh as he signed the last of the contracts to finish the merger. His secretary appeared as if on command.

"Ms. Weasley is here to see you," she said. Draco gathered the papers after placing the seal on the last one and stood, handing them to his secretary as he passed her.

"Just mail them out and you can leave for the day," he said with a rare smile. The secretary returned it, tucking the parchments under her arm. She followed him out and took a seat at her desk to finish the last of her notes on the day.

"Ginerva," Draco said as he grabbed his cloak. Ginny smiled and took the hand he offered.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere you've never been before," Draco replied with mischievous grin. He pulled his wand out and apparated them before she could respond. When they arrived Ginny dropped his arm to spin around, admiring the sky.

"Paris Draco? Really? I've been here before," Ginny said, taking in the view of the Eiffel Tower. Draco chuckled.

"Yes, but not to the restaurant I'm about to take you too. And I know, because we just opened it."

Ginny laughed and let him guide her into a cozy restaurant just south of the tower. She shed her cloak and gave it to the maître d' and they were led to a table at the back of the restaurant. She noted that it was empty, strange given it was dinnertime.

"They open tomorrow," Draco offered as they sat at the table. "I thought I would give you a private preview."

"I think you're working, but that's okay," Ginny replied with a smile as they sat. Their waiter poured their wine without Draco ordering and she assumed he'd set the menu beforehand.

"I wanted to be able to talk in peace. And I wanted to take you somewhere other than the Manor."

"I don't think Minerva would approve of me leaving the country on the night I had to ask to take off. But I suppose what she doesn't know won't hurt her." Draco gave her a mischievous smile as the waiter brought out their appetizer. Ginny took a small bite and sipped her glass of wine, thinking about Christmas.

Ginny was saying goodbye to everyone when she noticed Draco lingering in the living room talking quietly to Scorpius. Scorpius was nodding and then made his way over to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"I promised Grandmother I'd stay with her tonight, but will you bring me to the lab tomorrow?"

"Of course darling! I need your approval on my new recruits," Ginny said with a smile. Scorpius looked genuinely happy as he hugged his mum and then took Narcissa's hand so she could apparate them to her townhouse. Ginny waited a moment before she released a deep sigh, the quiet engulfing her, until Draco cleared his throat.

When she turned he was running his hands through his hair in a distracted manner. He followed her into the kitchen, helping her spell the dishes to do themselves and replace them in the cupboard.

"You don't have to stay," she said finally as the last dishes put themselves away. Draco took two tumblers out of the cabinet and retrieved the bottle of firewhiskey from the living room.

"I thought we could talk," he said finally as he poured two glasses.

"So that's the look you've been wearing all night," Ginny said. She wandered into the living room and Draco trailed her carrying the glasses she took hers, downing half of it, before she sat on the couch.

"What's on your mind Draco?" she asked, drawing her legs under her. She wasn't sure how many more talks she could handle in one day.

"What's on your mind Draco," Ginny asked softly, taking a sip of her wine.

"I thought we should finish the conversation we started before we drank a bottle of whiskey…and fell into bed," Draco said softly.

"Do you ever think maybe we're only good in bed?" Ginny asked in response. Draco frowned.

"The thought has crossed my mind. But I don't usually give it much credence."

"What do you want Draco?" Ginny asked, slightly exasperated.

"See I think I've finally figured that out," Draco replied. Ginny looked at him expectantly over her glass of wine. "I want you."

Ginny scowled at the smirk on Draco's face. She waited for the waiter to place their dinner on the table before she opened her mouth. Then she closed it again and let go of a frustrated sigh.

"Can you be serious Draco?" She settled on finally. "We're not kids anymore. We can't just keep falling into bed together and trying to figure it out in the morning."

"I'm sorry," Draco said. Ginny looked up, surprised at his sincere tone. "You know, I've never had to court someone before. Not really. When I was young there was always talk that Pansy and I would get married and have kids – carry on the Malfoy line. Then…After the war, my father set up the marriage with Astoria and I didn't really have a say in it. And my marriage…"

Draco took of a sip of wine then and seemed to look everywhere but Ginny. She signed again, taking a bite of the food in front of her.

"My marriage wasn't easy Gin. The only good thing that came out of it was Scorpius. Every time I tried to pursue you, you pushed me away and I didn't know how to handle that. And Harry was always in the background and…I don't share well, I'm sure you've realized that."

"I have. But Draco, you can't be selfish in love. You can't be selfish in your marriage either. Have you ever wondered if that's why your marriage didn't work?"

"Quite a bit in the last few months actually…" Draco said softly. Ginny wasn't sure how to respond to that so she remained silent and ate her meal. Draco watched her for a moment before he turned to his own food.

"Thank you for dinner Draco," Ginny said softly as they arrived in Hogsmeade. Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I had hoped…Well, I suppose it doesn't matter."

"Things are always going to be complicated between us Draco, but…we'll always be a family," Ginny replied softly. Draco frowned and stopped walking abruptly. Ginny stopped too and turned to look at him.

"Why is complicated so bad?" Draco asked angrily. Ginny frowned.

"We have to think of Scopius Draco," Ginny replied. "It would be selfish of us to pursue this without considering him."

"Part of why I'm falling for you is because you're the mother Astoria never could have hoped to be," Draco started. Ginny opened her mouth to interrupt but he held his hand up. "But I don't think it's selfish to see where this is going. Regardless of the lies you want to tell to yourself, when we lose our inhibitions – we always find each other and it's been that way since I came home Gin. I don't know what being in love with a woman is, but I think I might be in love with you."

Ginny began to reply, but Draco stopped her. He closed the distance between them and pulled her in for a kiss. Ginny found herself melting into his embrace and her hands went involuntarily to his neck. He ran a hand down her back, pulling her closer.

"Draco we can't keep doing this," Ginny said softly the morning after Christmas. She was pulling a t-shirt on to wear to the lab. Draco was sitting on the side of her bed pulling his shoes on.

"Why? You seem to enjoy it."

"Because it's not healthy," Ginny said softly. Draco saw the tears welling in her eyes but didn't know how to stop them. He frowned, running a hand through his hair as she disappeared from the room – undoubtedly to start coffee in the kitchen. He followed her down and came up behind her, kissing her shoulder through the thin t-shirt she had on.

Draco's mind raced as he took in the smell of her perfume but he pulled away when he felt her tense up.

"Draco please don't make this harder."

Draco felt her start to pull away and stepped closer instead.

"Ginerva Weasley, I think I might be falling madly in love with you and I don't care if it's messy and complicated. I had an easy arranged marriage already, I want crazy this time. I want you, all of you – and I can wait."

Ginny pulled away then and offered him a weak smile. He saw the tears in her eyes.

"I want to believe you, I just…I can't right now."

"I'll wait. But remember, Malfoys always get what they want," Draco said softly. Ginny turned then and began the walk up to the castle as a light snow began to fall.