A/N Just wanted to add a disclaimer. I don't own any of this. I just play with it and wish I was J.K. Rowlings.
Chapter 9
Lucius blinked and found himself no longer in his dark dreary cell but back in the interrogation room.
He frowned and cursed Draco under his breath, but the man sitting before him was not Draco.
The older man smiled at him, his eyes not quite equally the fake jolliness he was trying to exhibit. And Lucius knew exactly who he was.
So he leaned back and grinned his rotten smile. "Minister…fancy seeing you here. Here to grant me a pardon of some sort?"
Coogle gave a chuckle and Lucius followed his eyes to rest on the red headed man standing in the corner.
"No Mr. Malfoy, I am here for other reasons."
"And those are?"
"Your son, Draco."
Lucius leaned forward, intertwining his fingers. "Ah…is he dead or something? So this is a good visit?"
The Minister looked oddly at Lucius, and shook his head. "No…not at all. Your son is alive and well, and a Ministry Auror. You should be proud-"
"I have no use for your government. He's no good to anyone alive. And if you're looking for a gleaming recommendation from me, I have none. He was a horrible stupid boy and deserved to be drowned at birth."
The Minister didn't say anything at that, he just stared at Lucius.
Lucius sneered. "We were never close."
"I've gathered as much. No, sir…I must ask you a question."
"I've answered enough questions for a lifetime. I just want my kiss. Bring me a Dementor, I'll do it myself."
Dweedle snorted and the Minister threw a mean look towards him.
"Mr. Malfoy…please. Answer my questions and I will ensure you, you will have your kiss."
"Swear. Because I don't believe you. The boy has been hanging it over my head for years now."
"So your son is blocking your execution?"
"Yes…see the incompetence you allow in your ministry?"
The old man smiled again and suddenly Lucius felt a chill up his spine. He frowned. He knew what the score was.
"Stop that," Lucius barked.
Coogle shrugged. "Stop what?"
The prisoner pushed away from the table. "Whatever it is you are doing."
"I'm not-"
Lucius frowned at him and stood up. "I'm done here. I have no answers for you. Draco was a pathetic boy and he'll probably bring the ministry down single handedly. As for me, either kiss me or leave me be."
Coogle nodded slowly. "I will. I just need to understand what your son is hiding from me and how trustworthy he is to the Ministry. He had no real family or friends, aside from you…"
"I told you I have no tie to the boy."
"I see but…what can you tell me about his relationship…with Mr. Potter?"
Lucius laughed. "Relationship? I have no idea. Are they chummy in that way or something. Figures…his mother was always coddling him. But up until this revelation, I though Draco wanted to do Voldemort's job fast, in killing Potter. He hated him. Imagine my disappointment."
The old man gave a tilt of his head. "I can't imagine having a son be so disappointing…"
"I could fill a book with the regret I have pertaining to that boy's existence."
He watched as Coogle smiled and leaned forward. "Why don't we talk about that, Mr. Malfoy. And then, in the meanwhile, Dweedle will set up your kiss for tomorrow."
The beaten wizard contemplated it and smiled. He wanted his death. And he wanted it soon. So he began to talk…and Coogle listened.
Healers walked in and out of the room, causing Hermione and Luna to pause and turn to each other before continuing.
Luna gave her a sympathetic look. "You can do this."
Hermione gave a quick nod and inhaled, taking hesitant steps into Amy's room at St. Mungo's. When she woke up that morning, Harry was still asleep. Groggily he stumbled beside her to hug and kiss her, to tell her if she wanted to stay with her parents, he'd understand. Of course that was out of the question, so she assured him she would be back later that day.
Harry fidgeted with his hands a bit, twirling the ring in his fingers. "Do you want me to go? I mean, Amy was a big part of our lives."
She shook her head. "You're tired. Rest. I'll go. Luna'll be with me."
"But I feel-"
"No. There are things you have to get ready for. You can't do it if you haven't rested.
He gave her a look filled with so much love and concern. "You sure?"
She nodded.
It was no sense in both of them standing in the way. From what Luna said Amy was in a bad way and only allowed limited visitation. Plus, Harry looked knackered. They had talked and made love the night before, but Hermione couldn't shake the feeling Harry was hiding something from her. Not that he was the only one harboring secrets. Ron barely spoke to her that morning as she and Luna prepared to leave. She kept trying to catch his eye, but he dropped his chin to his chest. Finally she explained to him the matter, Harry would be told as soon as things calmed down.
"You expect me to just lie to him?"
"Of course not!" Hermione said in a harsh whisper in the kitchen. Luna was getting her bag and Harry was in the guest room.
"I'm not going to lie to him."
"Ronald, I'm not asking you to. Trust me on this."
Ron just stared at her and shook his head, but Hermione knew he would comply.
Her heart pounded and then dropped when she turned in the doorway and saw the sight in front of her. Amy was surrounded by a purple glow and Healers stood around her bed. She was badly burned, and unconscious. Her mother and father sat in the corner, holding each other crying.
Hermione had met them many times before, they were very proud of their daughter, despite her lack of magic. And they had dropped by the bookstore often. An image of her own parents flashed in her head, then an image of her and Harry, crying over their child. She shook the image away and tears formed in her eyes. She felt their pain but she never wanted to understand ever have to experience it. Hermione turned back to Luna, who simply nodded and walked past to the nearest Healer.
This caused Amy's parents to look up and see Hermione.
"Mrs. Potter! Oh we're so glad you are ok!"
The older woman got up and clung to her, and Hermione saw Amy's eyes came from her mother.
Hermione wanted to cry, how sad was it they were concerned about her but their own daughter had been in danger. She huffed back tears.
"I'm so sorry." She choked out.
The older man reached for her and pulled her into a comforting hug. "Shhh…child, don't be."
"Is-is she alright?"
Amy's mother looked into Hermione's eyes, pained. "No. They don't think it's much they can do."
"Surely there's a spell or a draught-"
The father shook his head solemnly. "We're just waiting...for her to pass on."
"I'm so, so sorry." Hermione broke down. She turned back to Amy's bed. Her eyes were red and sore, and she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. It could have been her! Years from now, it could have been her child. She prayed at that moment Harry would finish these bastards. They already took an innocent life. She'd be damned if they took her own child's. "I feel like it's my fault, I should have been there to protect-"
"No…no," Amy's mother soothed her with a warm palm on her cheek. "You didn't do this. Evil took my daughter."
"Go to her. She loved working for you." Amy's father whispered. "She looked up to you."
Hermione didn't want to pull away, she wanted to comfort them more, but she gathered herself and walked past Luna and the Healers slowly. She finally stood next to Amy's bed side. Despite the burns, she looked peaceful.
"Can I touch her?"
The Healer nodded.
Hermione reached out a shaking hand and lightly touched Amy's. She shuddered and let her tears flow more. "I'm so sorry Amy. I should have been there. I'm so sorry."
She didn't feel life coming from Amy. She felt Amy's cold skin contact hers, and she shuddered. Luna walked behind her and put her hands on her shoulders. Suddenly the glow around Amy was gone.
"She's passed on."
Hermione's head shot back to Amy's parents, her mother clutching her father's shirt, wailing. They had lost a child. Her hand went immediately to her belly. She couldn't go through that sort of loss. Shoulders hunched, Hermione allowed Luna to walk her out the room, her own body shaking from the pain.
His life sucked. Draco had managed to keep Potter from spilling the beans about his father. However, he was using that to blackmail Draco into the progress of the Death Eater situation. No one had seen hide nor hair of Crabbe and Goyle and the attacks that were attributed to them were only the ones that affected Potter. Draco crumpled up another piece of parchment and sat back in his desk chair, exhaling loudly. All his frustration had wound him up to the point where he could barely breathe without pain. Ginny would try to help him unwind with her many talents, but even after their marathons, Draco couldn't get the image of his father out of his mind.
When he left that room in Azkaban, he wanted to hit something so badly. Potter seemed like a good target, but Draco couldn't bring himself to do it. The pain his father had caused him burned him so deeply that now all he wanted to do was get a chance to kill his father with his bare hands.
Draco looked down and realized he had balled his fist so tightly his knuckles were white and he left nail impressions in his palms. Slowly he released his fists and flexed his fingers, pondering over what his next move would be. Should he go visit Crabbe and Goyle juniors today? He had visited them as much as possible, they were scared and begged Draco to find their fathers, not only to get them released but to stop the attacks. It bothered Draco he couldn't help them, and his visits would leave him more disturbed that anything else. No one understood that like him, those men were raised to hate and they overcame in towards the final battle. They were being punished for the sins of their fathers. He wondered would he be punished as well.
Potter had this crazy conspiracy theory that the Ministry was behind the attacks. Nonsense, Draco mused. He had to admit, he didn't understand the Minister's methods of recruitment or handling the attacks, but there was no evidence of mischief. The structure of the Ministry was being rebuilt and it would only make sense that things would fall apart, communication would be dodgy, and corners would be cut. And even though his father had pointed suspicion in the direction of Coogle, could he trust the words of a maniacal madman?
He couldn't go on Potter's crazed theories. No, he was an official part of the Ministry and would be privy to the goings on all around him, because surely the Minister trusted him with such knowledge….
A soft knock got his attention, and he looked up from his desk to see Ginny peak her head through the slightly open door.
Draco cleared his throat as she made her way in, her red hair pulled up and away from her face, a solemn look on it.
"Ginny? What are you doing here?" He stated more harshly than intended.
"I needed to talk to you."
Draco bit his lip and gestured to his desk. "I have a lot to do, can this wait until I get home?"
Home. She gave way to a small glower before catching her poise again and sitting on top his desk in front of him. It was her home with him, but lately, he's been so irrational and busy, she didn't feel like she belonged there. Ever since she had visited Harry, she felt she had some hope. All her feelings, the ones she kept locked away under anger flooded back to her. He filled her heart again. She had opened up to him, and he had to see what she could do for him. Would do for him.
Draco didn't appreciate her like that. Would he even notice she was unhappy? Of course not, he was busy all the time. Going after Harry and Death Eaters. And then there was that business with Harry. She had always been honest about her affections for Harry and how they drove her to Draco Manor. He seemed to revel in the fact she was there for him to toss in the face of her family and Harry. She was hoping it would incite jealousy in Harry, but it didn't…yet. For a little while she had forgotten about it. Not Harry but her plans to win him back. Sure she still had her fantasies, but she was finding a comfort in Draco. Until he started to withdraw from her again. He was still carnal with her but she wondered did he care at all about her feelings?
Her voice stopped Draco from admiring those long creamy legs he had wrapped around him last night. "I don't want to do this anymore…"
Draco gaped at her for a moment, before grunting and turning to shuffle his papers. "Do what? Is there something I'm forcing you to do?"
"No…" She sighed heavily, closing her eyes. Her look was so serious and focused that it made Draco uncomfortable. "I've felt since this whole Harry thing started, things are different now."
"Different?" Draco's face scrunched as if he smelled something bad. He turned his eyes up to Ginny, she obviously had been crying. "You came to my job to tell me this? To point an insult at me?"
Ginny shook her head and looked at him squarely. "We had a deal right? You let me live with you and be with you, and I….well what is it that you want from me?"
Her eyes pleaded for an answer and Draco couldn't speak for a moment, his voice was gone. What did she mean, what did he want from her? They had an understanding, a deal. He wanted companionship, he wanted loyalty. Was that so much to ask for? Finally he found his voice and it came out gruff. "Merlin Ginny, look I don't need your dramatics. I have all this rubbish to deal with here and-"
"That's what I mean. You come home and you have, we have-and then you don't talk to me! And the dreams! I know about the dreams that keep you up recently! "
Draco looked at her intensely. He had had another the night Harry came with the decree, but he didn't want to talk about it. "So, you're upset because I won't tell you my flipping dreams?! One flipping dream was all. And I don't even remember what it was about. Why are we talking about this right now?! Was it so important that you come here and-"
Ginny cut him off. "Yes it was. Because lately, I'm starting to see you get more benefit out the deal than me."
Draco was livid now. Not only did she come to his job and interrupt his thoughts, but now she's accusing him of using her. He knew what this was about, she'd set her eyes on Potty again (back to the name calling, eh Draco?) and now she's gone and confused herself.
When she came to him, crying and begging to stay at the manor, she had no where to go, no family or friends, despite the fact Draco was sure she had a whole house of Gryffindors to go to, he took her in. And part of it was to rub it in Weasel's and Potty's face about knowing Ginny biblically. He weighed the benefits as she sat there in his huge house he lived in alone and offered him companionship. She offered herself, and Draco didn't know how to say "no" to that. Maybe he should have wanted to but he didn't. So they made a deal, she could stay and be his, and in exchange, she would have a home. So how the hell was he getting the better end? He was the one who took care of her, she ate the best, wore the best, and lavished in luxury.
He gave her anything she wanted, but he wasn't a fool. She still loved Potty, despite the fact he ran off and married Hermione. Everyone knew he loved Hermione, everyone except Ginny it seemed. And their life was alright until she actually saw Harry again, standing in his foyer with the red oaf and his wife. Draco knew the moment Ginny's eyes hit Harry, everything he and Ginny had established, a building of trust and a grudging allegiance would crumble.
Now she sat atop his desk, staring down at him, wondering why he had a scowl. Because he didn't need this shit right now that's why. He glared back at her.
"If you want to leave me with the hope you can be with Potter, go ahead." He wasn't going to let her break him. Well she probably could, but he wouldn't let her know it.
Ginny watched Draco mess with his paperwork, her heart beat sped. He didn't care. Here she was, trying to tell him that if he only…oh it didn't matter. She wanted Harry…right? She noted his desk was covered in stuff about Harry. And in particular, a file on the fire at Harry's bookstore. Interesting….
Ginny cleared her throat and laid her wand on the desk on top of the file. She tried to look innocent as she muttered an incantation under her breath.
"What?" Draco said, obviously not listening to her too closely.
She cleared her throat and said defiantly. "Maybe it isn't about Harry."
"It's always about Harry. Honestly do you think he'd leave his wife, his pregnant wife for you? This man is running around ready to hex the bullocks off of anyone who so much as looks at her cross-eyed, he isn't going to just up and leave her because you put on a pretty dress and bat your eyes!" Draco couldn't help but be angry.
"Maybe this is about YOU!"
Draco looked surprised and then shook his head. "It's never about me. All I am to you is a place to rest your head and a ride to get on when you feel an itch. No Ginny…this is about you Harry Potter fixation. Your dismal belief he'll leave his wife for you."
Tears formed in her eyes. "Harry loved me once! He never gave me a chance!"
"Your chance is over! You see him what twice since you left Hogwarts, now you're back to living in your morbid fantasy about him?! Bow out gracefully Ginny! You're so busy living in the past you can't see what you-" he stopped himself. "You're not doing anything to break them up. You look pathetic in your attempts. I know what it feels like to want someone to love you. A specific person. And they just won't do it. Let. It. Go." He said the last three words slowly.
She swallowed, he was speaking of his father. Draco rarely opened up to her, and now he was doing it, he was doing what she wanted. Right? So she pushed on. "And what about your father? You never told me what happened." Open up to me, Draco.
He spoke before he could think better of it. Oblivious to him, he didn't realize he wasn't clear about who he was referring to. "What about him? I hope he dies slowly and painfully in that prison, and then I hope hell is his next journey."
"Did you get any information out of him?"
"Very little. He's so used to being a bastard, I wasn't expecting much."
Ginny nodded. "I don't want to leave Draco. I-I just had to let you know…"
"Yeah, alright." He interrupted angrily. She averted his eyes.
"That's what I mean, you'e so cruel to me..."
He felt like she kicked him in the chest but he didn't say anything. She sighed heavily at the doorway, wondering why she felt torn right now.
"I'll leave you to your work. Will you be home tonight?"
Draco nodded but didn't look at her. Her shoulders hunched and she walked out of his office, confused as ever. He sucked in a deep breath as the door closed behind her.
He grumbled out another spell, his magical binds whipping through the air as another brick lifted and glided into place. Rain made his dirty stringy hair plaster to his face, and he blew it out his eye and cursed. He should have known Coogle was a liar too. He hired his son after all.
No kiss would come, instead, he was forced to work on the wall. One more brick was summoned to the huge hole in the wall made by Crabbe and Goyle during their escape. Leave it up to the biggest prigs to make such a daring exit. He dropped attention to his pale thin wrists and fingers. It disgusted him that once they were such noble hands. Powerful majestic hands. Hands that once did the bidding of the most powerful wizard ever known to man.
He often scoffed at his convictions, various crimes against wizarding kind, including murder and torture. Blood should have been spilled to keep wizarding kind alive, he thought. The interbreeding of mudbloods and purebloods had dissipated the powers, his kind was falling victim to the trends of interfering muggles, what else could be done? He was raised in a fine aristocratic family, blood as pure as anything, and it shamed him to see others dilute such magnificence.
He chose to overlook the fact that his Master was half blood. For his Master had accomplished so many things unheard of, who was he to challenge that? He was very willing to sacrifice things, even his family for the "good" of magical kind. He did make a sacrifice, his son. His poor pathetic excuse for an heir.
He had hoped his only child with Narcissa would have been worth something. Instead they were cursed with a whiney brat of a boy, afraid to take up destiny and do what was fated to him. He had afforded Draco all luxuries, although sometimes, he would have to strip the boy down to nothing to teach him. The Master had plans for Draco, but being Narcissa's son, he was weak and ineffective.
Some days, Lucius would think about drowning the boy or leaving him in a haunted forest for anything that wanted him. But Narcissa wasn't going to have more children, and Lucius had to begrudgingly accept his heir. He had completely abandoned and embarrassed his father, by hiding behind that sniveling Snape and his mother, running away to Ireland to avoid the wrath of the Dark Lord.
Lucius had volunteered to kill him himself, but Lord Voldemort ignored him. Called him useless, just like the boy.
Lucius pouted and flicked his wrist lazily, causing a brick to sail through the air and hit the other prisoner in the face. He snickered, exposing rotten teeth and black gums. If he wasn't allowed to die, he should at least be able to make others suffer. The man staggered back, bleeding, and Lucius turned to watch him fall when he felt a painful jolt hit him.
"Malfoy!" yelled one of the guards. Lucius struggled to shake the stunning hex and turned back to finish his repair to the damage done to the prison wall. The guard went to hex him again, but suddenly there was a boom and it shook the ground. Everyone looked bewildered as debris fell around them.
"Everyone, drop your wands! INSIDE NOW!" bellowed a huge troll looking guard.
The others fell in line quickly, shuffling their feet in the binds as they heard the howling of guard wolves and the glow of hexes being fired.
"What do you suppose that was?" the man with the broken nose went to ask Lucius before he looked down eyes widened at Lucius's wrists. Lucius followed his gaze down to his own wrists, and saw his binds fading, weakening. Surely that stunning spell didn't make the bindings weak. Lucius looked around and noticed no one else was having the same problem. Pity.
He slowly stepped back from the wall, and walked towards the yard.
"Malfoy? Where do you think you-?"the prisoner shouted but Lucius hit him in the face, causing his nose to crack. Then Malfoy began to run. He heard the cries of the other prisoners, it only made him run faster.
"MALFOY! STOP!" a scream came from behind him. His legs were weak from malnutrition and lack of exercise but that didn't stop him. Several hexes flew in his direction and he decided he would see if his wand was still useful. He slipped in the mud of yard, but quickly picked himself up As he did, a cutting hex hit his shoulder, and he growled in pain, but kept running. The guard wolves were coming, he could hear them howling.
"Experiamus!" he shouted and a blast came from his wand and knocked down to of the troll like guards behind him. After running around several yards, he came to the main wall, tall and looming. This was too easy, he thought. He had no idea why any of this was happening, what he was doing, but he didn't want to waste time figuring it out. The guards were gaining on him, so he cast a levitation spell and went as high as he could. His hand was slippery and he dropped his wand, causing him crash to the ground below. The rain hit his face hard, and he dropped on the side of the gate before composing himself and finally making it to the huge hill before him.
Lucius scrambled up the hill, which was a feat considering it was all dirt, wet dirt. He pulled and dug his feet into the mud, his arms tired, but his mind determined. He could hear the guards yelling inside of Azkaban. "Release the Dementors!"
Shit, he thought and with one last pull, he threw his arm over the top of the hill, breathing heavily, rain blinding him. He turned his head to see two muddy boots standing there, and before he could look up to see who it was, a hard muddy fist cracked him across the jaw.
Double shit. Lucius spit out the blood, and snapped his head up to see his assailant, but rain beat down on him and everything was a blur. He focused on a pair of pale scrawny legs. The fist that hit him, turned into an open palm that reached down and pulled him up.
"Let's go before the Dementors get us." A voice barked.
He looked down at his bleeding shoulder, then turned back to the cause of the first melee inside the prison. Inclining his pointy chin, Lucius whipped his dirty stringy hair back and grinned. "Hello Bellatrix."
Draco tried not to think about it, tried not to think about Ginny, sitting here, telling him he would never have her like Potter had her heart. No he had much work to do, too much to focus on. He muttered curse words and reread the report on Crabbe and Goyle destroying another Muggle location. At first he thought they were specifically targeting something, but now they were all of the place. And he had no clue what. He would visit his two friends, still being held for questioning. He had to assure them he was working hard on getting them free. His office door opened and Draco groaned in frustration. It was probably Dweedle, coming around to annoy him. He looked up to focus on Coogle, standing before him…not happy. Dweedle squeezed in beside him, looking fiercely at Draco.
"Sir?"
"We have a problem," Coogle said, shakingly. "Your father, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange have escaped Azkaban. And I must ask you Auror Malfoy, what you do know about this?"
Ginny knocked twice and stepped away from the flat door, her nerves jumping up and down. So far, Harry had been to the manor three times to see her-well to see Draco, and she never got to talk to him about their second conversation they had in the foyer.
Ginny was positive Harry understood where she was coming from; he had come all that way to apologize after. Draco kept remarking that Harry was just using that as an excuse to steal his precious parchment, but Ginny read between the lines perfectly well. Harry could feel it too, she hoped.
There was a muffled sound and she heard the door being unlocked. This caused her to hitch a breath, before a red head stood yawning in front of her.
"Ginny?"
"Hello, Ronald. I need to see Harry, he said he was staying here." She replied simply and pushed past her brother.
Ron glared at her for a moment. "Oh so you DO know where I live? Amazing, and all this time, I though you never came by because you didn't know my address!"
Ginny turned and threw back a disgusted look. "Where's Harry?"
Ron gave her an odd look and shut the door behind her, not moving from his spot. "What do you need to see Harry for?"
"Look Ron, just go get him, it's private."
"Not in my flat, it isn't." Ron smirked, crossing his muscular arms. Ginny rolled her eyes and sat on the couch, crossing her legs.
"Get him. He might want to know this."
Ron returned an eye roll, and walked down the hall to the spare room where Hermione and Harry were staying. Hermione had left with Luna earlier to go to St. Mungo's to visit Amy, Harry was still crashing.
Ron knocked on the door, and found Harry sprawled across the bed.
"Harry, you have a visitor."
Harry moaned, but pushed himself up. Reaching for his glasses. "Who?"
"Ginny. This should be good."
Harry gave Ron a look and pulled on his t-shirt and jeans, before heading out to the lounge. Ginny sat there, her back straight, and Ron stood in front of her.
"Ginny?"
She turned her neck and smiled. "Hullo Harry. I needed to see you right away."
"Why? Did Draco send you?"
She shook her head. "He didn't come home last night. After he left with you."
Ron shot Harry an inquisitive look but it was unnoticed by Ginny. "Here."
She handed Harry a file. She had obviously stolen it from Draco's study. "He already thinks I gave you the parchment. So this is no biggie."
"What is it?"
Ginny beamed at Harry. "About the attacks. Profiles on Crabbe and Goyle. Everything about what's happening recently."
Harry flipped through the file and Ron looked over his shoulder.
Ron snorted, "Won't Malfoy shit a brick when he sees this is missing?"
"He's so flustered he probably won't know it's even missing." She countered.
Harry had to admit, it was helpful. It gave locations and dates, times, and everything. Auror positions. He looked at Ginny and gave a small grin. "Thanks. I don't want to-"
"Just find out who's doing this."
Harry nodded. He closed the file and looked at Ron. "Can you give us a minute?"
Ron smirked and nodded, walking back to his bedroom. Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Thanks for this Ginny. Really.
Ginny gave a slight incline and smiled. "I have my reasons for helping you Harry."
"Like?" Harry raised an eye brow and noticed Ginny was playing nervously with her hands.
"Remember the night you came to see me, and Draco walked in on us?" she looked at Harry for acknowledgement of that moment, but his face was one of confusion. "The night you asked me to forgive you?"
"Ah, yes-" Harry replied, scratching the back of his neck. He could see that night Ginny was getting the wrong idea. Stupid plan of diversion. Good thing Draco walked in, because Harry could have sworn she was going to ask to run away with him.
Ginny watched Harry's reaction. He looked pain. She understood, he had a pregnant wife and he didn't want to look like an arse for leaving her in her condition. No, Ginny didn't want Harry to be thought of as cruel, but she could sense the tension between them, sexual tension. Harry was avoiding her gaze but Ginny just smiled sweetly. She would give him time. Time to get this Hermione mess in order, for them to move on. Draco was wrong, Harry still cared. Draco. Shit. As much as Harry was pulling at her right now, the thought of Draco put her heart in tug of war. All this time, she had been with him, grown used to him, cared for him…did she love him?
Don't be ridiculous, she thought to herself. She loved Harry, she always had. Draco was just, company. As sterile as that seemed to say, it saddened her a bit to think of Draco alone. But this was what she wanted…Harry.
She realized they both had been quiet for a minute, so she spoke up. "I'm sorry about the bookstore."
"Yes," Harry breathed out, relieved at the change of subject. "Hermione is devastated of course."
"Yes well, hopefully that file will help you. I don't normally betray Draco's trust. He's actually a good man, you know."
She was telling the truth. He had his moments of kindness. Soft tender moments where she almost swore he- but then he would say something sarcastic and stupid. So unlike Harry. Always kind.
Harry gave a small smile. "I appreciate it. I don't think it's him. I don't think he knows what's happening just as much as me."
Ginny nodded. "Well, I should go. I-good luck Harry."
She was such a chicken shit. She turned to the door and looked back to see Harry wave and walk past Ron who had exited his room. Harry was down the hall and gone when Ron had reached Ginny.
He turned his head to see Harry disappear in the spare room and back to Ginny.
"He's happily married, you best remember that."
She hated when he read her and he was right. "What?"
Ron cleared his throat and looked pointedly to his sister. "I said he's married."
Ginny scowled at Ron. "Things change."
"Don't be stupid Ginny. I'm your brother and his best mate. Harry loves Hermione."
"That is your opinion."
Ron huffed and shifted his stance. "I don't want you hurt. Did Draco give you the portkey?"
"Yes." She muttered. "Honestly Ron, you had him all hysterical."
"Well," Ron replied, "despite the fact I hate his guts, he cared enough to keep you safe."
Ginny looked at Ron for minute and then reached back for the door. "Bye Ron."
Ron leaned against the door frame, watching her walk down the hall. "Why don't you visit Mum?"
Ginny didn't answer; she disappeared into the stairwell.