Ginny and Pertha were sent to the warehouse near Carlisle for more bar supplies. Pertha couldn't weasel her way out of this one (and she needed the hours since Ginny began to work nights). They could have Apparated, but driving was more fun.
Pertha had never driven before, so Ginny rented an old car and drove them down to Carlisle. It had been ages since Ginny drove anything other than her father's Fort Anglia. It was a good way to look at the beautiful paysages of the English countryside and let their hair down. They deserved a holiday since they both worked six days a week.
The warehouse supplied both Muggle and Wizarding ingredients. Ginny parked the car out back and the two walked in for business. On the way out, it happened — the sighting.
There was a gathering of ten silver masked figures in an empty sect of the warehouse, chanting in tongues Ginny had come to know from the days of the Carrows' rule over Hogwarts. They were up to no good, and Ginny could bet her last galleon this was 'Voldemort business'. She had just the wizard to ask, so the moment she and Pertha returned she Apparated around town until she found him enjoying coffee at the Morning Owl.
"It's Monday," Snape said, lids drooping.
"It's important." Ginny leaned in. "I saw …Death Eaters."
Snape's features contorted and his brows and lip curled. He had to see for himself of course, else whatever was left of his morality—the part not wasted on the redheads— would surely drain out. They Apparated there that evening and scoped the place. Like that—not a trace of dark business was present, just the faint scent of Dark Magic that lingered about like strong cologne.
"They really are back," Ginny said, in awe as she walked around the room.
"They never left," was Snape's grim reply.
"-and so close." Ginny hoped she'd never have to relive the horror that was the Second Wizarding War with Voldemort ever again. She had buried the past in long work shifts and times out with her new and large friend group. The hardest thing was falling asleep alone at night, knowing no one was there to distract or protect her from her own mind. Now that her nightmares might be coming back to life, she shuddered to think of what might happen to her new life.
They walked out in silence into the crisp night. Snape's body drifted closer to hers, ready to Apparate back, and she smelled the wool of his overcoat and the faint scent of something sweet-Muggle clothing softener. She smiled. There was something oddly Muggle about Snape. But then the smell reminded her of Harry's clothes and Ginny's smile quickly wiped itself away.
"Shall we?" he said.
"Yeah."
And the warehouse disappeared.
-xxx-
Snape came every Saturday, as per routine, and Ginny fixed him his drink, as per routine. But this time, some new face caught her off guard. This young wizard strode into the bar and put two muscular hands on the bar counter and spoke in a thick Texan accent.
"Where can a man get a drink around here?"
"I know a place," Ginny said, tapping the counter beside an empty bar stool.
The man was young, in his twenties, and very attractive. With his caramel skin and his bold brows and a side swept mess of dark curls, Ginny found herself entranced in a conversation about his Rancho and something called "bullfights" that sounded bloody interesting. That is until a familiar flick of magic pinched her skin.
"Ow." She looked over and met eyes with Snape. Shite, she'd forgotten all about his drink! Ginny excused herself and went off to make the usual.
"Take your time," Snape said sourly, accepting his glass.
"Sorry, new patrons."
"New victims." Snape shook his glass back and forth. "Does he know about your questionable sense of humor?"
"Questionable?" Ginny laughed. "I'm all fun and games."
"You're all distraction." Snape sipped his drink and stalled on a second. "Carry on."
Ginny did spend the evening talking to the Texan. She was surprised Snape was not in a more sour mood regarding her slow service. Seemed he really did understand the game and wasn't about to impose on her ever growing crush.
The Texan and Ginny laughed the entire night and by the end, he asked for her number in case he wanted to send her a message in her iMag notebook.
Ginny realized she hadn't even got his name until she was cleaning up for the night.
"Names don't matter," said Snape in a tone that suggested he thought quite the opposite. He took his drink, downed it, paid and left. It did bring a sense of relief to Ginny that she hadnt left a bad impression on the Texan after all and might have a chance with him.
Ginny shuddered to think she could sympathetize with Snape more than she realized.
-xxx-